Br J Psychol February 2020 PMID 30825195

The effectiveness of short-format refutational fact-checks.

Ullrich K H Ecker, Ziggy O'Reilly, Jesse S Reid, Ee Pin Chang

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Mentions

20
Peak: 3 in Mar 2019
across 6 sources since Mar 2019

Extended reach

59,817
potential audience

Total likes

4,047

Video views

40,959

Mentions per month

Mar 2019 – Feb 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter10 posts
  • News5 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts
  • Facebook1 posts
  • Blogs1 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The digital discussions emphasize the value of short refutational posts in combating misinformation, with phrases like 'most effective,' 'helpful publication,' and mentions of reducing false beliefs. The tone combines professional praise and recognition of the method’s potential, reflecting both interest and perceived impact.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the findings that short refutations and simple retractions effectively reduce false beliefs, indicating general agreement.

InterestHigh interest

The variety of comments, including those praising the publication's importance and effectiveness, show high curiosity and value placed on the research.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments range from brief mentions to more detailed discussions about the method and significance, showing moderate but meaningful engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

References to the importance of fact-checking and the mention of the publication's high download rates imply recognition of its influence in the broader media and misinformation landscape.

Abstract in brief

  • Research investigates the effectiveness of different factchecking formats in social media, focusing on short refutations vs. simple false claims tagged as false.
  • Simple retractions that just label a false claim as false do not seem to backfire or make people believe the false information more.
  • Short, 140-character refutations are more effective than simple retractions after a week, as they reduce misinformation and related reasoning, though not significantly after just one day.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
UWA Psychological Science
@UWApsych · X

Yet more delightful & helpful publication impact news from Wiley's #TopDownloadedArticle feed - congrats to Assoc. Prof @UlliEcker, Dr @EePinChang1 & team, top 10% most downloaded in 2018 & 2019 in the British Journal of Psychology

Apr 30, 2020 · 6 likes · 2 shares · 1,011 followers View post →
青島周一
@syuichiao89 · X

The effectiveness of short-format refutational fact-checks https://t.co/CtMNGYvOJI

Apr 20, 2021 · 1 like · 8,597 followers View post →
Kari Kivinen
@Kari_Kivinen · X

Fact checking has become an important feature of the modern media landscape. However, it is unclear what the most effective format of fact checks is. This study explores the effectiveness of short format refutational fact checks. @UlliEcker https://t.co/fLiaVk5CQ0

Jan 15, 2020 · 1 like · 1,172 followers View post →
Nick Byrd, Ph.D.
@byrd_nick · X

Belief in false claims was reduced by simple retractions and 140-character refutations in two experiments of over 1000 people. https://t.co/jz5D88zVCK

Mar 25, 2019 · 3,492 followers View post →
Science news
@UpdateonScience · X

https://t.co/aWoJMJomet Study finds that simple retractions can reduce belief in false claims, as can short-format refutations (consisting of fewer than 140 characters), which suggests that both of these tools can be useful when it comes to dealing with widespread misinformatio… https://t.co/5lmGdUgzF0

Mar 16, 2019 · 1,877 followers View post →
MarcelKieltyka
@MarcelKieltyka · X

Źródła: ℹ️ Wpis powstał głównie na bazie oficjalnego oświadczenia @eurofactcheck. ℹ️ https://t.co/B69RrhEHN7 ℹ️ https://t.co/cfSq53c7NY ℹ️ https://t.co/9m5M0GZWy4 ℹ️ https://t.co/vvh7FTveds ℹ️ https://t.co/yKfL0BvJgE ℹ️ https://t.co/6Rz7W4Pcu1 ℹ️ https://t.co/c9Q9puGdz2

Jan 7, 2025 · 1,582 followers View post →

All mentions

MarcelKieltyka
@MarcelKieltyka · X

Źródła: ℹ️ Wpis powstał głównie na bazie oficjalnego oświadczenia @eurofactcheck. ℹ️ https://t.co/B69RrhEHN7 ℹ️ https://t.co/cfSq53c7NY ℹ️ https://t.co/9m5M0GZWy4 ℹ️ https://t.co/vvh7FTveds ℹ️ https://t.co/yKfL0BvJgE ℹ️ https://t.co/6Rz7W4Pcu1 ℹ️ https://t.co/c9Q9puGdz2

Jan 7, 2025 · 1,582 followers View post →
青島周一
@syuichiao89 · X

The effectiveness of short-format refutational fact-checks https://t.co/CtMNGYvOJI

Apr 20, 2021 · 1 like · 8,597 followers View post →
Ee Pin Chang
@EePinChang1 · X

RT @UWApsych: Yet more delightful & helpful publication impact news from Wiley's #TopDownloadedArticle feed - congrats to Assoc. Prof @Ulli…

May 11, 2020 · 2 shares · 172 followers View post →
Je Hoon Chae
@JehoonC · X

RT @UWApsych: Yet more delightful & helpful publication impact news from Wiley's #TopDownloadedArticle feed - congrats to Assoc. Prof @Ulli…

May 1, 2020 · 2 shares · 162 followers View post →
UWA Psychological Science
@UWApsych · X

Yet more delightful & helpful publication impact news from Wiley's #TopDownloadedArticle feed - congrats to Assoc. Prof @UlliEcker, Dr @EePinChang1 & team, top 10% most downloaded in 2018 & 2019 in the British Journal of Psychology

Apr 30, 2020 · 6 likes · 2 shares · 1,011 followers View post →
Atsu
@atspsy · X

RT @candyapple980z: 最も効果的なファクトチェックの形式がどんなものか実験的に検証。単純に誤りと指摘する反論も有効だし,140字の限られた範囲でがんばった反論は一週間の遅延後も有効。https://t.co/VtirsmvzaD

Feb 20, 2020 · 1 share · 46 followers View post →
riseki
@candyapple980z · X

最も効果的なファクトチェックの形式がどんなものか実験的に検証。単純に誤りと指摘する反論も有効だし,140字の限られた範囲でがんばった反論は一週間の遅延後も有効。https://t.co/VtirsmvzaD

Feb 20, 2020 · 1 share · 661 followers View post →
Kari Kivinen
@Kari_Kivinen · X

Fact checking has become an important feature of the modern media landscape. However, it is unclear what the most effective format of fact checks is. This study explores the effectiveness of short format refutational fact checks. @UlliEcker https://t.co/fLiaVk5CQ0

Jan 15, 2020 · 1 like · 1,172 followers View post →
Nick Byrd, Ph.D.
@byrdnick.com · Bluesky

Belief in false claims was reduced by simple retractions and 140-character refutations in two experiments of over 1000 people. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjop.12383

Mar 25, 2019 View post →
Nick Byrd, Ph.D.
@byrd_nick · X

Belief in false claims was reduced by simple retractions and 140-character refutations in two experiments of over 1000 people. https://t.co/jz5D88zVCK

Mar 25, 2019 · 3,492 followers View post →
Science news
@UpdateonScience · X

https://t.co/aWoJMJomet Study finds that simple retractions can reduce belief in false claims, as can short-format refutations (consisting of fewer than 140 characters), which suggests that both of these tools can be useful when it comes to dealing with widespread misinformatio… https://t.co/5lmGdUgzF0

Mar 16, 2019 · 1,877 followers View post →
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