Debunking: A Meta-Analysis of the Psychological Efficacy of Messages Countering Misinformation

Man-pui Sally Chan; Christopher R. Jones; Kathleen Hall Jamieson; Dolores Albarracín

doi:10.1177/0956797617714579

Debunking: A Meta-Analysis of the Psychological Efficacy of Messages Countering Misinformation

Man-pui Sally Chan¹; Christopher R. Jones²; Kathleen Hall Jamieson²; Dolores Albarracín¹

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · ² The Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania

Psychological Science 2017

This meta-analysis investigated the factors underlying effective messages to counter attitudes and beliefs based on misinformation. Because misinformation can lead to poor decisions about consequential matters and is persistent and difficult to correct, debunking it is an important scientific and public-policy goal. This meta-analysis ( k = 52, N = 6,878) revealed large effects for presenting misinformation ( ds = 2.41–3.08), debunking ( ds = 1.14–1.33), and the persistence of misinformation in the face of debunking ( ds = 0.75–1.06). Persistence was stronger and the debunking effect was weaker when audiences generated reasons in support of the initial misinformation. A detailed debunking message correlated positively with the debunking effect. Surprisingly, however, a detailed debunking message also correlated positively with the misinformation-persistence effect.

DOI: 10.1177/0956797617714579
Volume: 28 (11)
Pages: 1531-1546
Language: en
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