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.
Can Fact-Checking Influence User Beliefs About Misinformation Claims: An Examination of Contingent Effects
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SKU
47.4.12
Publication History
Received: August 4, 2021
Revised: April 13, 2022; September 27, 2022; January 26, 2023; February 13, 2023
Accepted: February 13, 2023
Published Online as Articles in Advance: November 30, 2023
Published Online in Issue: December 1, 2023
Abstract
Additional Details
Author | Anol Bhattacherjee |
Year | 2023 |
Volume | 47 |
Issue | 4 |
Keywords | Misinformation, fact-checking, source credibility, attitude strength, experiment |
Page Numbers | 1679-1692 |