Research summary
The online spread of science misinformation fuels problems like climate change denial and the anti-vaccine movement. Dr. Jaigris Hodson, Canada Research Chair in Digital Communication for the Public Interest, is working to address the online spread of this sort of misinformation.
Drawing from cultural capital theories, a social-ecological model and the user experience literature, Hodson and his research team aim to uncover how cultural, psychological and emotional factors influence people’s choices with respect to digital sharing and engagement. Ultimately, their research will reduce the spread of misinformation by increasing our understanding of best practices for science communication in today’s digital world.