Our current information ecosystem makes it easier for misinformation about science to spread and harder for people to figure out what is scientifically accurate. Proactive solutions are needed to address misinformation about science, an issue of public concern given its potential to cause harm at individual, community, and societal levels. Improving access to high-quality scientific information can fill information voids that exist for topics of interest to people, reducing the likelihood of exposure to and uptake of misinformation about science. Misinformation is commonly perceived as a matter of bad actors maliciously misleading the public, but misinformation about science arises both intentionally and inadvertently and from a wide range of sources.
Understanding and Addressing Misinformation About Science characterizes the nature, scope, and impacts of this phenomenon, and provides guidance on interventions, policies, and future research. This report is a comprehensive assessment of the available evidence and reflects a systems view of the problem given the broader historical and contemporary contexts that shape the lived experiences of people and their relationships to information. The report aims to illuminate the impacts of misinformation about science and potential solutions across a diversity of individual peoples, communities, and societies.
Table of Contents
Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Defining Misinformation About Science 3 Misinformation About Science: Understanding the Current Context 4 Sources of Misinformation About Science 5 Spread of Misinformation About Science 6 Impacts of Misinformation About Science 7 Intervening to Address Misinformation About Science 8 The Study of Misinformation About Science 9 Conclusions, Recommendations, and Research Agenda References Appendix A: Public Meeting Agendas Appendix B: Committee and Staff Biographies
