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The disinformation pandemic: social and cognitive aspects of the belief in false information about Covid-19

  • Funded by Decanato de Pesquisa e Inovação - Universidade de Brasilia (DPI)
  • Total publications:0 publications

Grant number: 1017209

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Key facts

  • Disease

    COVID-19

  • Known Financial Commitments (USD)

    $1,720.22

  • Funder

    Decanato de Pesquisa e Inovação - Universidade de Brasilia (DPI)

  • Principal Investigator

    Ronaldo Pilati Rodrigues

  • Research Location

    Brazil

  • Lead Research Institution

    N/A

  • Research Priority Alignment

    N/A

  • Research Category

    Policies for public health, disease control & community resilience

  • Research Subcategory

    Communication

  • Special Interest Tags

    N/A

  • Study Type

    Non-Clinical

  • Clinical Trial Details

    N/A

  • Broad Policy Alignment

    Pending

  • Age Group

    Not Applicable

  • Vulnerable Population

    Not applicable

  • Occupations of Interest

    Not applicable

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an "infodemia", the overabundance of information that makes it difficult to identify reliable data. In Brazil, instant communication tools, such as Whatsapp, allow the spread of false information in unprecedented proportions. The dissemination of false cures, miraculous recipes and conspiracy theories has an important cost for public health and for the functioning of Brazilian society. Recent research relates the belief in false information to the lesser tendency to analytical thinking, although there may be, however, influence of identity and social aspects. The present study proposes to analyze this question in an experimental way, focusing on the spread of false information related to the pandemic by Whatsapp.