Reducing Health Misinformation in Science: A Call to Arms

• Published date: 01 March 2022
• Date: 01 March 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00027162221087686
• Subject Matter: Misinformation

124 ANNALS, AAPSS, 700, March 2022

DOI: 10.1177/00027162221087686

Reducing

Health

Misinformation

in Science:

A Call to Arms

By

BRIONY SWIRE-THOMPSON

and

DAVID LAZER

1087686ANN The Annals Of The American AcademyReducing Health Misinformation In Science

research-article2022

The public often turns to science for accurate health

information, which, in an ideal world, would be error

free. However, limitations of scientific institutions and

scientific processes can sometimes amplify misinforma-

tion and disinformation. The current review examines

four mechanisms through which this occurs: (1) preda-

tory journals that accept publications for monetary gain

but do not engage in rigorous peer review; (2) pseudo-

scientists who provide scientific-sounding information

but whose advice is inaccurate, unfalsifiable, or incon-

sistent with the scientific method; (3) occasions when

legitimate scientists spread misinformation or disinfor-

mation; and (4) miscommunication of science by the

media and other communicators. We characterize this

article as a “call to arms,” given the urgent need for the

scientific information ecosystem to improve.

Improvements are necessary to maintain the public’s

trust in science, foster robust discourse, and encourage

a well-educated citizenry.

Keywords: misinformation; predatory journals; pseu-

doscience; scientific fraud; health

Science is the only institution where public

confidence has remained stable since the

1970s (Funk et al. 2019). Even during the

COVID-19 pandemic, trust in scientists has

remained extremely high (Luna, Bering, and

Halberstadt 2021). Given that the public often

turns to science for accurate health information,

Briony Swire-Thompson is a senior research scientist

and director of the Psychology of Misinformation Lab

at Northeastern University. She is a cognitive psycholo-

gist who investigates what drives belief in inaccurate

information and how corrections can be designed to

maximize impact.

David Lazer is a professor of political science and com-

puter sciences at Northeastern University. His scholar-

ship focuses on computational social science and social

networks, with a particular focus on misinformation

and political communication. He is colead of the COVID

states project, which has charted public opinion in all

fifty states through the pandemic.

Correspondence: b.swire-thompson@northeastern.edu