The Potential for Narrative Correctives to Combat Misinformation

• Published in: Journal of communication Vol. 69; no. 3; pp. 298 - 319
• Main Authors: Sangalang, Angeline, Ophir, Yotam, Cappella, Joseph N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01.06.2019
• Subjects: Original; Narrative Persuasion; Belief Echoes; Attitudes; Misinformation; Emotions
• ISSN: 0021-9916; 1460-2466
• DOI: 10.1093/joc/jqz014

Abstract Misinformation can influence personal and societal decisions in detrimental ways. Not only is misinformation challenging to correct, but even when individuals accept corrective information, misinformation can continue to influence attitudes: a phenomenon known as belief echoes, affective perseverance, or the continued influence effect. Two controlled experiments tested the efficacy of narrative-based correctives to reduce this affective residual in the context of misinformation about organic tobacco. Study 1 (N = 385) tested within-narrative corrective endings, embedded in four discrete emotions (happiness, anger, sadness, and fear). Study 2 (N = 586) tested the utility of a narrative with a negative, emotional corrective ending (fear and anger). Results provide some evidence that narrative correctives, with or without emotional endings, can be effective at reducing misinformed beliefs and intentions, but narratives consisting of emotional corrective endings are better at correcting attitudes than a simple corrective. Implications for misinformation scholarship and corrective message design are discussed.