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Cfire
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EDIT: Sorry about breaking forum guidelines.
I know that the title of this thread is a little misleading, but it seems like a good attention grabber.
Some Notable Findings
The actual study: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf
I suppose that while it could be contended that this study doesn't really "prove" anything, I'm inclined to agree with the position that has some data. The study, while certainly not conclusive, seems to be done about as well as they could have done it. I have to say though, my wanting this to be true makes me a little biased. It's all pretty interesting regardless.
I know that the title of this thread is a little misleading, but it seems like a good attention grabber.
Some Notable Findings
The study found that daily Fox News viewers, regardless of political party, were "significantly" more likely than non-viewers to erroneously believe that:
* Most economists estimate the stimulus caused job losses (12 points more likely)
* Most economists have estimated the health care law will worsen the deficit (31 points)
* The economy is getting worse (26 points)
* Most scientists do not agree that climate change is occurring (30 points)
* The stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts (14 points)
* Their own income taxes have gone up (14 points)
* The auto bailout only occurred under Obama (13 points)
* When TARP came up for a vote most Republicans opposed it (12 points)
* And that it is not clear that Obama was born in the United States (31 points)
What do you guys think about all of this? It seems to kind of reinforce the stereotypes that we all have already. It's notable how political leaning didn't make as much of a difference as the station that you watch, and it's scary how much misinformation there is in general.For each topic, the news source with the lowest level of misinformation among its daily consumers was as follows:
•most economists who have studied it estimate that the stimulus legislation saved or created only a few jobs or caused job losses: MSNBC, 65% misinformed
•among economists who have estimated the effect of the health reform law, more think it will increase the deficit: Public broadcasting (NPR or PBS), 38%
•the bank bailout legislation (TARP) was passed and signed into law under Pres. Obama: MSNBC, 38%
•the US economy is getting worse: Public broadcasting (NPR or PBS), 34%
•the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts: MSNBC, 34%
•the bailout of GM and Chrysler occurred under President Obama only: MSNBC, 32%
•since January 2009 the respondent’s federal income taxes have actually gone up: MSNBC, 27%
•it is unclear whether Obama was born in the US—or, Obama was not born in the US: Public broadcasting (NPR or PBS), 24%
•when TARP came up for a vote, Democrats were opposed or divided: Fox News, 21%
•when TARP came up for a vote, most Republicans opposed it: CNN, 28%
•it was proven that the US Chamber of Commerce was spending foreign money to back Republicans: Fox News, 23%
•most scientists think climate change is not occurring or views are divided evenly: MSNBC and public broadcasting (NPR or PBS), both 20%
This suggests that misinformation cannot simply be attributed to news sources, but are part of the larger information environment that includes statements by candidates, political ads and so on.
The actual study: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf
I suppose that while it could be contended that this study doesn't really "prove" anything, I'm inclined to agree with the position that has some data. The study, while certainly not conclusive, seems to be done about as well as they could have done it. I have to say though, my wanting this to be true makes me a little biased. It's all pretty interesting regardless.
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