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The ephemeral effects of fact-checks on COVID-19 misperceptions in the United States, Great Britain and Canada

Author

Listed:
  • John M. Carey

    (Dartmouth College)

  • Andrew M. Guess

    (Princeton University)

  • Peter J. Loewen

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Eric Merkley

    (University of Toronto)

  • Brendan Nyhan

    (Dartmouth College)

  • Joseph B. Phillips

    (University of Kent)

  • Jason Reifler

    (University of Exeter)

Abstract

Widespread misperceptions about COVID-19 and the novel coronavirus threaten to exacerbate the severity of the pandemic. We conducted preregistered survey experiments in the United States, Great Britain and Canada examining the effectiveness of fact-checks that seek to correct these false or unsupported beliefs. Across three countries with differing levels of political conflict over the pandemic response, we demonstrate that fact-checks reduce targeted misperceptions, especially among the groups who are most vulnerable to these claims, and have minimal spillover effects on the accuracy of related beliefs. However, these reductions in COVID-19 misperception beliefs do not persist over time in panel data even after repeated exposure. These results suggest that fact-checks can successfully change the COVID-19 beliefs of the people who would benefit from them most but that their effects are ephemeral.

Suggested Citation

  • John M. Carey & Andrew M. Guess & Peter J. Loewen & Eric Merkley & Brendan Nyhan & Joseph B. Phillips & Jason Reifler, 2022. "The ephemeral effects of fact-checks on COVID-19 misperceptions in the United States, Great Britain and Canada," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(2), pages 236-243, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:6:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1038_s41562-021-01278-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01278-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Hoy,Christopher Alexander & Rajee Kanagavel & Cameron,Corey Morales, 2022. "Intra-Household Dynamics and Attitudes toward Vaccines : Experimental and Survey Evidencefrom Zambia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10136, The World Bank.
    3. Wood, Reed M. & Juanchich, Marie & Ramirez, Mark & Zhang, Shenghao, 2023. "Promoting COVID-19 vaccine confidence through public responses to misinformation: The joint influence of message source and message content," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    4. Marco Dettori & Antonella Arghittu & Paolo Castiglia, 2022. "Knowledge and Behaviours towards Immunisation Programmes: Vaccine Hesitancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-6, April.
    5. Fotakis, Emmanouil Alexandros & Simou, Effie, 2023. "Belief in COVID-19 related conspiracy theories around the globe: A systematic review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).

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