Early and Co-authors Examine Approaches to Teaching About Mis/DisInformation
Posted: 2/14/2024 (CSDE Research)
CSDE Affiliate Jody O. Early (Nursing and Health Studies) published research with colleagues in Pedagogy in Health Promotion, titled “Pedagogy and Propaganda in the Post-Truth Era: Examining Effective Approaches to Teaching About Mis/DisInformation“. The proliferation of false or misleading health information poses a significant threat to public health, eroding trust in evidence-based practices and potentially leading to adverse health outcomes. In this post-truth era, it is crucial to equip students and those working in health occupations with the knowledge and skills that enhance their media literacy and ability to discern credible from suspect information. However, we must go further to help students critically examine mis/disinformation from an ecological perspective to understand the historical and socio-political factors that lead to its spread and their vulnerability to it. In this paper, authors offer a rationale for focusing on pedagogy to prevent and to mitigate the spread of mis/disinformation in health promotion, and provide examples of evidence-based approaches for doing so.