Stop the spread: Empowering students to address misinformation through community-engaged, interdisciplinary science communication training

Abstract

Teaching science in an age of disinformation and misinformation requires empowering students to address inaccurate information in evidence-based ways. Science communication scholarship highlights the growing importance of inclusive and relational approaches for addressing misinformation. Thus, we developed, implemented, and evaluated an interdisciplinary, graduate-level course for students in STEM, journalism/communication, and public health to learn to address misinformation using community-engaged, evidence-based approaches. We used the Theory of Planned Behavior as a theoretical framework for our mixed-methods analysis of the efficacy of this course, assessing both the behaviors that students planned to utilize in community-engaged science communication to address misinformation, as well as the attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control that influenced these planned behaviors. Quantitative self-report metrics indicated that this curriculum increased students' subjective norms for misinformation correction as well as perceived behavioral control of science communication and science civic engagement. Thematic analysis of qualitative student interview data showed that the course helped students increase their plans for inclusive approaches to addressing misinformation. This study indicates the importance of community-engaged curriculum to develop the mindset and self-efficacy necessary for scientists-in-training to address misinformation in their communities.