Congratulations to  colleagues, Agnes Chuah, Nuri Kim, & Edson Tandoc, for publishing our research in Risk Analysis!

Ho, S. S., Chuah, A. S. F., Kim, N., & Tandoc, E. (in press, 2022). Fake news, real risks: How online discussion and sources of fact-check influence public risk perceptions towards nuclear energy. Risk Analysis.

Abstract:

This study seeks to understand how online discussion, fact-checking, and sources of fact-checks will influence individuals’ risk perceptions toward nuclear energy when they are exposed to fake news. Using a 2 x 3 experimental design, 320 participants were randomly assigned to one of the six experimental conditions. Results showed an interaction effect between online discussion and exposure to fact-checking, in which online discussion lowered individuals’ risk perception toward nuclear energy when a fact-check was unavailable. Of those who participated in the online discussion, those who viewed a fact-check posted by traditional media have higher risk perception as compared to those who viewed a fact-check posted by a fact-check organization. Our findings indicate that different fact-checking sources can have differential effects on public risk perceptions, depending on whether online discussion is involved. To curb the spread of fake news, different fact-checking strategies will need to be deployed depending on the situation.