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The Backfire Effect: Can fact-checking make false beliefs stronger?

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Manage episode 497001809 series 3646567
Content provided by Regina Nuzzo and Kristin Sainani. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Regina Nuzzo and Kristin Sainani or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Can correcting misinformation make it worse? The “backfire effect” claims that debunking myths can actually make false beliefs stronger. We dig into the evidence — from ghost studies to headline-making experiments — to see if this psychological plot twist really holds up. Along the way, we unpack interaction effects, randomization red flags, and what happens when bad citations take on a life of their own. Plus: dirty talk analogies, statistical sleuthing, and why “familiarity” might be your brain’s sneakiest trick.

Statistical topics

  • Computational replication
  • Replication
  • Block randomization
  • Problems in randomization
  • Bad citing
  • Interactions in regression

Unpublished "Ghost Paper"



Citations

Kristin and Regina’s online courses:

Programs that we teach in:

Find us on:

Kristin - LinkedIn & Twitter/X

Regina - LinkedIn & ReginaNuzzo.com

  • (00:00) -
  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (02:05) - What is the backfire effect?
  • (03:55) - The 2010 paper that panicked fact-checkers
  • (06:25) - The ghost paper what it really said
  • (12:35) - Study design of the 2010 paper
  • (18:25) - Results of the 2010 paper
  • (19:55) - Crossover interactions, regression models, and intimate talk
  • (25:24) - Missing data and cleaning your bedroom analogy
  • (28:11) - Fact-checking the fact-checking paper
  • (33:07) - Replication and pushing the data to the limit
  • (36:59) - The purported backfire effect spreads
  • (41:06) - The 2017 paper that got a lot of attention
  • (44:25) - Statistical sleuthing the 2017 paper
  • (48:51) - Will researchers double down on their earlier conclusions?
  • (54:46) - A review paper sums it all up
  • (56:00) - Wrap up, rating, and methodological morals

  continue reading

14 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 497001809 series 3646567
Content provided by Regina Nuzzo and Kristin Sainani. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Regina Nuzzo and Kristin Sainani or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Can correcting misinformation make it worse? The “backfire effect” claims that debunking myths can actually make false beliefs stronger. We dig into the evidence — from ghost studies to headline-making experiments — to see if this psychological plot twist really holds up. Along the way, we unpack interaction effects, randomization red flags, and what happens when bad citations take on a life of their own. Plus: dirty talk analogies, statistical sleuthing, and why “familiarity” might be your brain’s sneakiest trick.

Statistical topics

  • Computational replication
  • Replication
  • Block randomization
  • Problems in randomization
  • Bad citing
  • Interactions in regression

Unpublished "Ghost Paper"



Citations

Kristin and Regina’s online courses:

Programs that we teach in:

Find us on:

Kristin - LinkedIn & Twitter/X

Regina - LinkedIn & ReginaNuzzo.com

  • (00:00) -
  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (02:05) - What is the backfire effect?
  • (03:55) - The 2010 paper that panicked fact-checkers
  • (06:25) - The ghost paper what it really said
  • (12:35) - Study design of the 2010 paper
  • (18:25) - Results of the 2010 paper
  • (19:55) - Crossover interactions, regression models, and intimate talk
  • (25:24) - Missing data and cleaning your bedroom analogy
  • (28:11) - Fact-checking the fact-checking paper
  • (33:07) - Replication and pushing the data to the limit
  • (36:59) - The purported backfire effect spreads
  • (41:06) - The 2017 paper that got a lot of attention
  • (44:25) - Statistical sleuthing the 2017 paper
  • (48:51) - Will researchers double down on their earlier conclusions?
  • (54:46) - A review paper sums it all up
  • (56:00) - Wrap up, rating, and methodological morals

  continue reading

14 episodes

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