Brian Lamb School Research Highlights the Power of Critical Voices in Countering Misinformation

In a world dominated by media narratives and viral claims, distinguishing fact from fiction has become an increasingly critical task. Recent research by Dr. Nathan Johnson, a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and Dr. Glenn Sparks of Brian Lamb School at Purdue University sheds light on the power of counternarratives to combat misinformation—especially when false claims originate from seemingly credible sources.

On July 26th, 2023, former intelligence officer on the United Aerial Phenomena Task Force, David Grusch, came before congress to testify to his personal knowledge about a decades-long crash retrieval program in which the United States government was secretly reverse-engineering technology found from other-worldly spaceships. Although this paper makes no particular claim about the veracity of Grusch’s claims, the wider scientific community nearly unanimously considers these claims to be misinformation. Furthermore, Grusch’s testimony embodies several challenges of combatting misinformation – his position as a high-ranking intelligence officer gave him credibility, and his claim that the government’s official reports and press releases are deceptive hampers the possibility of direct fact checks. 

In this study participants  were exposed to a combination of Grusch’s own claims and either a supporter or a critic of those claims. Those who saw the supportive commentary were more likely to believe in UFO-related conspiracies than they were before watching the video, while those who viewed a skeptical critique showed no increase in these beliefs. 

Lessons for Journalists and Science Communicators

The results of this study (N=287) suggest that journalists and science communicators have a responsibility to allow critical voices to be heard when extreme claims are being portrayed. Stories like Grusch’s often draw massive public attention, yet their presentation can significantly shape how they are received. By including critical voices that challenge unsupported claims, media outlets can mitigate the risk of amplifying misinformation. 

The type of claim that Grusch has made in his interviews and in his testimony to congress is especially challenging for journalists, as simple fact checking may not be sufficient or even possible. In cases like this, countering misinformation effectively requires more than presenting facts. 

The Future Fight Against Misinformation

This research highlights the possibility of broader application of counternarrative work for combating the spread of misinformation in other domains. Even when false claims are bolstered by credibility or compelling storytelling, they are not impervious to scrutiny. Because sensational claims attract so much attention in the news media, the effects of these claims must be taken seriously. Through thoughtful, evidence-based approaches, we can equip audiences to navigate the complexities of modern media, empowering them to make more informed judgments about the sensational claims of tomorrow.

Paper Cited: Johnson, N. and Sparks, G. (2024). Narrative misinformation from a credible source can be discredited with counternarrative JCOM 23(08), A02. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.23080202