Publications

Inoculating an Infodemic: An ecological approach to understanding engagement with COVID-19 online information. 

  • Houlden, S., Hodson, J., Veletsianos, G., Thompson, C.P., & Reid, D. (2021). Inoculating an Infodemic: An ecological approach to understanding engagement with COVID-19 online information. American Behavioral Scientist. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027642211050903

Abstract:As the global COVID-19 pandemic has been concurrently labelled an “infodemic,” researchers have sought to improve how the general public engages with information that is relevant, timely, and accurate. In this study, we provide an overview of the reasons why people engage and disengage with COVID-19 information. We use context-rich semi-structured interviews which invited participants to discuss online COVID-19-related content they encountered. This qualitative approach allows us to uncover subtle but important details of influences that drive online engagement. Participants both engaged and disengaged with content for individual and social reasons, with seven themes emerging connected to their engagement including actions in response to information, reasoning for engagement, content, motivating concerns, frequency of engagement with information, site of exposure, and given reason for not engaging. Many of these themes intersected and informed each other. Our findings suggest that researchers and public health communicators should approach engagement as an ecology of intersecting influences, both human and algorithmic, which change over time. This information could be potentially helpful to public health communicators who are trying to engage the public with the best information to keep them safe during the pandemic.

The health belief model: How public health can address the misinformation crisis beyond COVID-19

  • Houlden, S., Hodson, J., Veletsianos, G., Reid, D., & Thompson-Wagner, C. (2021). The health belief model: How public health can address the misinformation crisis beyond COVID-19. Public Health in Practice, 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2021.100151

This paper proposes an intervention into health misinformation that relies upon the health belief model as a means to bridge the risks associated with health misinformation and the impact on individual health, beyond the current recommendations for fact checking and information literacy Study design: This is a short theoretical paper. Conclusions: Misinformation researchers and public health practitioners and communicators can benefit using the infrastructures afforded by public health offices to mobilize the health belief model as a site for misinformation education.

Public responses to COVID-19 information from the public health office on Twitter and YouTube: implications for research practice

Abstract: We collected tweets directed at the official Twitter account of the Canadian Public Health Office as well as comments on a Canadian Public Health Office press conference posted to YouTube. We used a mixed method corpus-assisted discourse analysis approach to categorize and analyze these data. We found key differences between comments on each platform, namely differences in tone and sarcasm in YouTube comments, and more balance in Twitter mentions. Findings suggest that studying public responses to health information on one platform in isolation does not provide an accurate picture. To generate a fuller picture of misinformation, researchers should conduct studies across digital platforms using diverse methods. This research could influence how studies of health communication and public opinion are approached in the future.  

COVID-19 health misinformation: using design-based research to develop a theoretical framework for intervention 

  • Houlden, S., Veletsianos, G., Hodson, J., Reid, D., & Thompson, C.P. (2022). COVID-19 health misinformation: using design-based research to develop a theoretical framework for intervention. Health Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-05-2021-0073

Abstract:

Purpose: Because health misinformation pertaining to COVID-19 is a serious threat to public health, the purpose of this study is to develop a framework to guide an online intervention into some of the drivers of health misinformation online. This framework can be iterated upon through the use of design-based research to continue to develop further interventions as needed.

Design/methodology/approach: Using design-based research methods, in this paper, the authors develop a theoretical framework for addressing COVID-19 misinformation. Using a heuristic analysis of research on vaccine misinformation and hesitancy, the authors propose a framework for education interventions that use the narrative effect of transportation as a means to increase knowledge of the drivers of misinformation online.

Findings: This heuristic analysis determined that a key element of narrative transportation includes orientation towards particular audiences. Research indicates that mothers are the most significant household decision-makers with respect to vaccines and family health in general; the authors suggest narrative interventions should be tailored specifically to meet their interests and tastes, and that this may be different for mothers of different backgrounds and cultural communities.

Originality/value: While there is a significant body of literature on vaccine hesitancy and vaccine misinformation, more research is needed that helps people understand the ways in which misinformation works upon social media users. The framework developed in this research guided the development of an education intervention meant to facilitate this understanding.

Heuristic responses to scientific uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic: Practicable communications strategies of ‘reasoned transparency’ to aid public reception of changing science

  • Under review, Public Health in Practice

Abstract:

Objectives: The uncertain nature of scientific information during novel pandemic outbreaks poses a significant challenge for public health communicators. This paper analyzes how Canadians respond to changes in scientific knowledge and health messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic to devise communication strategies that can minimize the negative impacts of uncertainty. Methods: After conducting a series of one-to-one interviews about Canadian’s information habits around COVID-19, we identified significant trends in the heuristics that people leaned on to process changes in pandemic-related science. This paper analyzes these trends and translates them into two practicable strategies for how health communicators can communicate scientific uncertainty about pandemics based on the risk research principle of reasoned transparency. Results: Interviewees used four primary heuristic cues to process changes in pandemic-related science: trust, affect, expectancy, and tradition. Reliance on affect and tradition cues led to negative responses to change, while reliance on expectancy and trust led to positive responses. Expectancy and tradition were by far the most influential heuristic cues, while the influence of trust and affect were marginal. Conclusion: The importance of expectancy heuristics in shaping positive responses to changing pandemic science suggests that health communicators should use narratives of science as constantly evolving to set expectations and normalize change. Given the influence of previous knowledge to override expectations of change, when changes do occur, health communicators should attend to divergences from the past and not simply replace old information with new information. These two strategies provide health communicators with actionable ways to blend risk research with pandemic communication.  

Design Principles for an Educational Intervention into Online Vaccine Misinformation

  • Under review, TechTrends

Abstract:

As part of a design-based research effort into disrupting the spread of COVID-19 misinformation, we are designing, developing, and evaluating a learning intervention intended for public audiences. In this paper we describe the process used and design principles developed to guide our applied research into education on the topic of online misinformation. The six principles guiding our design are: microlearning; equity; relevance and appeal to learners; interventions that do not inadvertently spread misinformation; effective counter messaging; and engagement on an emotional level. These principles are grounded on equitable design, anti-misinformation design, and emotional design as outlined in the literature.

An evaluation of a Microlearning intervention to limit COVID-19 online misinformation 

  • Under review, Journal of Formative Design in Learning

Abstract:

As part of a design-based research project, we designed, developed, and evaluated a web-based microlearning intervention into the problem of COVID-19 online misinformation. In this paper, we report on our formative evaluation efforts. Specifically we evaluated the degree to which the intervention was effective and engaging via responses to a survey (n=295) in a posttest-only non-experimental design. The intervention focused on two learning objectives, aiming to enable users to recognize (a) that online misinformation is often driven by strong emotions like fear and anger, and (b) that one strategy for disrupting the spread of misinformation can be the simple act of stopping before reacting to misinformation. Results indicate that the comic was both effective and engaging in achieving these learning objectives.

Blog: How do people assess the credibility of COVID-19 related information? Personal beliefs a strong influence

In January 2021, we wrote a guest blog post for the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences sharing some of our research and early findings. It offers brief comments on two specific topics:

  • Assessing the credibility of COVID-19 information online, and
  • What can public health communicators do?

Read the blog here: http://www.ideas-idees.ca/blog/how-do-people-assess-credibility-covid-19-related-information-personal-beliefs-strong-influence

Report: COVID-19 Misinformation in Canada

In spring of 2020, we compiled the findings of five studies of COVID-19 misinformation in Canada. This report synthesizes the preliminary findings of these studies. It focuses on two specific areas:

• the extent to which Canadians are exposed to COVID-19 misinformation online, and

• the extent to which Canadians are believing misinformation.

Access the full report by downloading it here:

COVID-19 Misinformation in Canada Report