28/09/2023 (Thursday) 13:00-14:00 E21B-G002
Fact-checking as a deterrent? A conceptual replication of the influence of fact-checking on the sharing of misinformation by political elites
Abstract:
In a field experiment conducted during the 2012 general elections in the U.S., Nyhan and Reifler found that the threat of fact-checking deterred state legislators from making false or misleading statements. The current study presents a conceptual replication and extension of this influential study by utilizing a similar treatment that leverages a recent partnership between local media outlets and fact-checking organizations, assessing the effects of the treatment on the accuracy of legislators’ statements on Twitter around the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump. Results provide limited evidence of the effects of our treatment on the accuracy of legislators’ posts, even among legislators within media markets directly affected by this partnership.
Bio:
Dr. Siyuan MA has received his PhD degree from Michigan State University. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Communication at University of Macau. His research interests are mainly about computational methods, political communication, and international communication.
