Understanding and Countering
Disinformation and Propaganda
This special issue of Behavioral Science & Policy (BSP) aims to enhance both scholarly understanding of and policy measures to counteract disinformation and propaganda. Disinformation refers to the intentional and strategic dissemination of false information, while propaganda encompasses the dissemination of half-truths, false, or misleading information in the service of persuading the public of a particular viewpoint or (political) agenda. Specifically, the special issue seeks to foster a dialogue on the origins of disinformation and propaganda, people's susceptibility to them, their spread dynamics, effects on public opinion, and behavioral interventions to counteract them.
We envision this special issue as a platform for comprehending and mitigating the impact of disinformation and propaganda spread by industry actors, governmental authorities and government-sponsored political actors, special interest groups, individual agents (e.g., influencers, elites) on social media platforms, and others. We are particularly interested in submissions examining rhetoric related to politicized social issues.
We welcome submissions from a broad spectrum of behavioral sciences, including economics, sociology, psychology, communication, computational, and political science. Similarly, we encourage papers from various methodological traditions, including experimental and field empirical research, formal and computational modeling, and qualitative research. We also encourage submissions that explore the application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other advanced technological developments in producing and disseminating disinformation and propaganda. Additionally, we are open to essays that synthesize existing research on disinformation and propaganda while presenting a novel perspective, even if they lack original data.
It is imperative that submitted papers not only advance a scientifically grounded understanding of issues related to disinformation or propaganda but also offer concrete practical implications for mitigating their effects or addressing their consequences. Interested authors are encouraged to submit their abstracts by December 2, 2024. Full papers will be requested for selected abstracts following the initial review.
Click here to learn more and to submit: LINK
Guest Editors
Christopher Bail -Duke University
John T. Jost -New York University
Mohamed Mostagir -University of Michigan
Maxim Sytch -University of Michigan
Sander van der Linden -University of Cambridge
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Sim Sitkin
Michael W. Krzyzewski University Professor,
Professor of Management and Public Policy
Duke University
Durham, NC
919-660-7946
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