Misinformation: determinants of gullibility

Sven Gruener

No r3fx7, SocArXiv from Center for Open Science

Abstract: This paper analyzes the susceptibility to misinformation in a survey experiment by considering three hand-picked topics (climate change, Covid-19, and artificial intelligence). Subjects had to rate the reliability of several statements within these fields. We find evidence for a monological belief system (i.e., being susceptible to one statement containing misinformation is correlated with falling to other false news stories). Moreover, trust in social networks is positively associated with falling for misinformation. Whereas, there is some evidence that risk perception, willingness to think deliberately, actively open-minded thinking, and trust in science and media protects against being susceptible to misinformation. Surprisingly, the level of education does not seem to matter much.

Date: 2021-01-24
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env and nep-soc
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:osf:socarx:r3fx7

DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/r3fx7

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