When a story contradicts: correcting health misinformation on social media through different message formats and mechanisms

ABSTRACT

The study examined the effects of message format (narrative vs. nonnarrative) and correction mechanism (social vs. algorithmic correction) in correcting e-cigarette related misinformation on social media. Two experimental studies were conducted. In study 1, correction mechanisms explicitly endorsed the message corrective (n = 235). As an explicit endorsement may reveal persuasive intent and influence narrative persuasion, Study 2 replicated the design and employed a manipulation for correction mechanism with a more implicit endorsement (n = 235). Findings generally suggest that nonnarrative correction is more effective when it is suggested by social media contacts; narrative correction may have merit when it is prompted by algorithms with explicit endorsement. Credibility evaluations and narrative transportation highlight the psychological mechanisms for understanding this interaction effect.

KEYWORDS:

• Narrative persuasion
• misinformation correction
• attitude change
• transportation
• message credibility

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication.

Notes on contributors

Yan Huang

Yan Huang (Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University) is an assistant professor of integrated strategic communication at the University of Houston. Her research investigates how content features and technological aspects of media messages shape audience responses to health, nonprofit, and other prosocial campaigns.

Weirui Wang

Weirui Wang (Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University) is an associate professor at Department of Communication, Florida International University. Her research focuses on health and science communication for social changes, with an emphasis on understanding the impact of social media.