Dissertation
Misinformation and Vaccines: Using Media Literacy to Improve Health Decision-Making
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005237
Abstract
Misinformation has been a large problem during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many people are hesitant to receive vaccinations because of misleading information. This study examined the variables associated with vaccine hesitancy through a mixed-method approach. Study 1 (N=22) included six focus groups from the Extension Foundation program, with participants from around the U.S. A thematic analysis of the participant’s answers was then conducted, which provided insights into vaccine hesitancy and education. In all, four key themes were identified: Social Division, Educational Gaps, Individual Values, and Social Systems. The results from the thematic analysis were incorporated into the design of a media literacy education infographic and the experimental design of Study 2 (N=125) through added measures. The experiment had a control and intervention condition, where one group was shown the infographic and the other was not. They were each shown random vaccine social media posts, with three containing true information and three false. The results of both studies indicated a strong correlation between political identification and vaccine hesitancy. Media literacy confidence and skill also had an interaction with vaccine hesitancy and expectancy. Overall, media literacy is an important skill to cultivate when helping people overcome vaccine hesitancy and verify misinformation.
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Details
- Title
- Misinformation and Vaccines
- Creators
- Shawn Kenneth Domgaard
- Contributors
- Erica W Austin (Advisor)Jessica Kay Fitts Willoughby (Committee Member)Porismita Borah (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 161
- Identifiers
- 99901019834301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation