Walton et al 2021_Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication_Accepted.PDF (689.36 kB)
Information discernment and the psychophysiological effects of misinformation
journal contribution
posted on 2021-09-20, 08:11 authored by Geoff Walton, Matt Pointon, Jamie BarkerJamie Barker, Martin Turner, Andrew WilkinsonPurpose: To determine to what extent a person’s psychophysiological well-being is affected by
misinformation and whether their level of information discernment has any positive or negative effect
on the outcome.
Design/methodology/approach: Participants (n=48) were randomly and blindly allocated to one of two groups: (1) Control Group participants were told a person they were working with was a student. (2) Experimental Group participants were additionally led to believe that this other participant had extreme religious views. This was both stigmatising and misinforming as this other person was an actor. Participants completed a pre-screening booklet and a series of tasks. Participants’ cardiovascular responses were measured during the procedure.
Findings: Participants with high levels of information discernment ie those who: are curious, use multiple sources to verify information, are sceptical about search engine information, are cognisant of the importance of authority and are aware that knowledge changes and is contradictory at times exhibited an adaptive stress response i.e., healthy psychophysiological outcomes and responded with positive emotions before and after a stressful task.
Originality: The first study to combine the hitherto unrelated theoretical areas of information discernment (a sub-set of information literacy), affective states (PANAS) and stress (challenge and threat cardiovascular measures).
Social implications: The findings indicate the potential harmful effects of misinformation and discuss how information literacy or Metaliteracy interventions may address this issue.
Design/methodology/approach: Participants (n=48) were randomly and blindly allocated to one of two groups: (1) Control Group participants were told a person they were working with was a student. (2) Experimental Group participants were additionally led to believe that this other participant had extreme religious views. This was both stigmatising and misinforming as this other person was an actor. Participants completed a pre-screening booklet and a series of tasks. Participants’ cardiovascular responses were measured during the procedure.
Findings: Participants with high levels of information discernment ie those who: are curious, use multiple sources to verify information, are sceptical about search engine information, are cognisant of the importance of authority and are aware that knowledge changes and is contradictory at times exhibited an adaptive stress response i.e., healthy psychophysiological outcomes and responded with positive emotions before and after a stressful task.
Originality: The first study to combine the hitherto unrelated theoretical areas of information discernment (a sub-set of information literacy), affective states (PANAS) and stress (challenge and threat cardiovascular measures).
Social implications: The findings indicate the potential harmful effects of misinformation and discuss how information literacy or Metaliteracy interventions may address this issue.
Funding
CILIP Information Literacy Group
History
School
- Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Published in
Global Knowledge, Memory and CommunicationVolume
71Issue
8/9Pages
873-898Publisher
EmeraldVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Rights holder
© EmeraldPublisher statement
This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-03-2021-0052Acceptance date
2021-08-02Publication date
2021-09-06Copyright date
2021ISSN
2514-9342Publisher version
Language
- en
Depositor
Dr Jamie Barker. Deposit date: 2 August 2021Usage metrics
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