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Cutting the Bunk

Comparing the Solo and Aggregate Effects of Prebunking and Debunking Covid-19 Vaccine Misinformation

Bibliographic Data

ID12431300
AuthorsMichelle A Amazeen (0000-0003-0167-7323, Boston University, MA, USA, corresponding author), Arunima Krishna (0000-0002-2808-6614, Boston University, MA, USA), Rob Eschmann (0000-0002-7278-1526, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA)
Year2022
Volume44
Issue4
Pages387-417
Publication date2022-07-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScience Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1075-5470 • E-ISSN: 1552-8545
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10755470221111558
OpenAlexW4285993107
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited55

An online experiment among a nationally representative YouGov sample of unvaccinated U.S. adults ( N = 540) leverages inoculation theory as a preliminary step in uniting the prebunking and debunking literature. By testing how prior attitudes toward Covid-19 vaccines interact with varying message interventions, the study finds that specific inoculation messages protect against misinformation, but only among those with preexisting healthy attitudes. Generic inoculation messages have wider application, offering both prophylactic and therapeutic benefits. However, the therapeutic benefits of generic inoculations disappear when debunking messages are present. Nonetheless, generic inoculations do not appear to have detrimental effects on those infected with unhealthy attitudes, unlike specific inoculation messages. Whether the messages are truly a form of inoculation by generating threat merits further research

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Computer security · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Inoculation · Misinformation · Pathology · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · Computer Science · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Medicine · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Social Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Immunology · Virology

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Unique citing works24
Citations per year8
Citation span2023 - 2026 (4)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 24
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