Detailed debunking messages are more effective than just labeling something as wrong, and debunking is more effective when an audience is engaged in helping to correct a message, according to a meta-analysis in Psychological Science.
Research Findings
Americans Are Poorly Informed About Basic Constitutional Provisions
Many Americans are poorly informed about basic constitutional provisions, according to APPC's Constitution Day Civics Survey. It finds that 37% can’t name any of the rights under the First Amendment and only 26% can name all three branches of government.
Why Teens Take Risks: It’s Not a Deficit in Brain Development
A popular theory in recent neuroscience proposes that slow development of the prefrontal cortex explains teenagers’ seemingly impulsive and risky behavior. An extensive literature review challenges that interpretation.
Public Trust in Science Spiked After News Reports of Zika Vaccine Trial
How can the public’s confidence in science be strengthened? A new study finding that public confidence in science spiked following coverage of the Zika vaccine trial in 2016 suggests a way to improve trust in science on a more sustained basis.
Study Finds Fact-checking Videos Better Than Text at Correcting Misinformation
An experimental study of the effect of humor and video in fact-checking finds that both funny and non-humorous videos were more interesting and understandable than a comparable textual fact-checking story.
Study of Pope’s Climate Message Featured by Nature Climate Change
A study of the Pope's encyclical on climate change conducted by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center has been featured as a "research highlight" by the journal Nature Climate Change.
Pope’s Encyclical Boosted His Credibility on Climate Change, Especially Among Liberals
A study found that the Pope's encyclical on climate did not directly influence people’s beliefs about climate change but did so indirectly by raising the Pope's credibility on the issue.
Pictorial Warning Labels Deter Smoking a Month After Last Exposure
A new study finds that pictorial warnings on cigarette packs can help to curb smoking levels at least 30 days after smokers had daily exposure to them.
What Viewers Learned From the 2016 General Election Presidential Debates
What did viewers of the 2016 general election presidential debates learn about the candidates? A new APPC study analyzes debate learning and the effect of post-debate TV coverage.
Counteracting the Influence of Adolescent Peer Smoking on YouTube
Limits on marketing cigarettes may be undercut by user-generated YouTube videos. A study of adolescents finds it's possible to counteract such pro-tobacco videos with a corrective message.