Resolving the Micro-Macro Disconnect for the Role of Facts in American Attitudes

• In Event: Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories

Abstract

An increasingly large experimental literature demonstrates that simple factual rebuttals improve subjects' factual accuracy, for technical questions and simple questions, for politicized issues or depoliticized issues. Despite this, the observations evidence demonstrates the stubborn persistence factually inaccurate positions in representative surveys. How should we resolve this disconnect? In this four wave survey experiment, we measure the competing effects of dosage of partisan information, and the dosage of scientific information, on the most important and politicized scientific policy area in modern politics--the role of human activity in effecting climate change.

Authors

• Brendan Nyhan, Dartmouth College

• Ethan Porter, George Washington University

• Thomas Wood, The Ohio State University