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Displacing Misinformation about Events: An Experimental Test of Causal Corrections

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  • Nyhan, Brendan
  • Reifler, Jason

Abstract

Misinformation can be very difficult to correct and may have lasting effects even after it is discredited. One reason for this persistence is the manner in which people make causal inferences based on available information about a given event or outcome. As a result, false information may continue to influence beliefs and attitudes even after being debunked if it is not replaced by an alternate causal explanation. We test this hypothesis using an experimental paradigm adapted from the psychology literature on the continued influence effect and find that a causal explanation for an unexplained event is significantly more effective than a denial even when the denial is backed by unusually strong evidence. This result has significant implications for how to most effectively counter misinformation about controversial political events and outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Nyhan, Brendan & Reifler, Jason, 2015. "Displacing Misinformation about Events: An Experimental Test of Causal Corrections," Journal of Experimental Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(1), pages 81-93, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jexpos:v:2:y:2015:i:01:p:81-93_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Wioletta Dziuda & William G. Howell, 2020. "Political Scandal: A Theory," Working Papers 2020-17, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.
    2. Jay J. Van Bavel & Katherine Baicker & Paulo S. Boggio & Valerio Capraro & Aleksandra Cichocka & Mina Cikara & Molly J. Crockett & Alia J. Crum & Karen M. Douglas & James N. Druckman & John Drury & Oe, 2020. "Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(5), pages 460-471, May.
    3. Zhangyan Deng & Jinyang Guo & Dong Wang & Zuosong Chen, 2022. "A Supplementary Approach for Effective Anti-Doping Education: A Pilot Study Applying Refutation Texts to Modify Misperception of the Whereabouts System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Au, Cheuk Hang & Ho, Kevin K.W. & Chiu, Dickson K.W., 2021. "Stopping healthcare misinformation: The effect of financial incentives and legislation," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(5), pages 627-633.
    5. Rotem Botvinik-Nezer & Matt Jones & Tor D. Wager, 2023. "A belief systems analysis of fraud beliefs following the 2020 US election," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(7), pages 1106-1119, July.
    6. Anton Emanuela & Teodorescu Cosmin Alexandru & Vargas Vanesa Madalina, 2020. "Perspectives and reviews in the use of narrative strategies for communicating fake news in the tourism industry," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 728-734, July.
    7. Michelle Riedlinger & Silvia Montaña-Niño & Ned Watt & Víctor García-Perdomo & Marina Joubert, 2024. "Fact-Checking Role Performances and Problematic Covid-19 Vaccine Content in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 12.

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