CAN FACT-CHECKING INFLUENCE USER BELIEFS ABOUT MISINFORMATION CLAIMS: AN EXAMINATION OF CONTINGENT EFFECTS

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bhattacherjee, Anol
• 署名单位: State University System of Florida; University of South Florida
• 刊物名称: MIS QUARTERLY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0276-7783
• DOI: 10.25300/MISQ/2023/17688
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 1679-1692
• 关键词: source credibility; fake news; attitude; format; no

摘要

Prior research has suggested that corrective fact-checking has inconsistent effects on beliefs about online misinformation claims. This study attempts to explain this inconsistency using three contingent factors-claim-source credibility, fact-checker credibility, and attitude strength-which respectively relate to three key parties in the fact-checking process: the source of a misleading claim, the fact-checker, and the user evaluating the fact-check. I hypothesize the interplay between these factors, which is tested using two online experiments on COVID-19-related misinformation with over 900 participants. Multilevel analysis of pretest-posttest, repeated measures data supports the hypothesized moderating effects and offers additional insights about how these effects vary between earlier versus later phases of misinformation cycles. The paper concludes with a discussion of contributions to research and practice.