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=== General information === | === General information === | ||
Our page specifically for [[Nicotine - Misperceptions, Misinformation, or Disinformation]] | |||
[https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/the-effects-of-subtle-misinformation-in-news-headlines The effects of subtle misinformation in news headlines.] Ullrich K H Ecker*, Stephan Lewandowsky, Ee Pin Chang, Rekha Pillai School of Psychological Science, Bristol Neuroscience, Cabot Institute for the Environment (*Corresponding author) | [https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/the-effects-of-subtle-misinformation-in-news-headlines The effects of subtle misinformation in news headlines.] Ullrich K H Ecker*, Stephan Lewandowsky, Ee Pin Chang, Rekha Pillai School of Psychological Science, Bristol Neuroscience, Cabot Institute for the Environment (*Corresponding author) | ||
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For example the word '''may''' is doing all the work here, when we read the [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/31/research-shows-vaping-may-bad-heart-cigarettes article], and the study it reports on, we find that short term changes in heart rate and blood pressure where detected, however nothing harmful or long term. Such things as drinking a cup of coffee, running for a bus, or a surprise gift, all cause similar changes. | For example the word '''may''' is doing all the work here, when we read the [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/31/research-shows-vaping-may-bad-heart-cigarettes article], and the study it reports on, we find that short term changes in heart rate and blood pressure where detected, however nothing harmful or long term. Such things as drinking a cup of coffee, running for a bus, or a surprise gift, all cause similar changes. | ||
Others to look out for are <nowiki>'might', ''probably', 'could' and all the usual suspects. It isn't uncommon to read X probably causes Y, but on reading the full text find out that it's not actually possible to tell, or even sometimes that in fact, it probably doesn'</nowiki>t. | Others to look out for are <nowiki>'might', ''probably', 'could' and all the usual suspects. It isn't uncommon to read X probably causes Y, but on reading the full text find out that it's not actually possible to tell, or even sometimes that in fact, it probably doesn'</nowiki>t. Such tactics can be argued to go against principles of 'good ethics' particularly where (public) health is concerned, and where not likely to be obvious, context (as provided above with coffee etc.) should be provided. This is not unreasonable, the public expects high standards, when reading about things that are used to make health choices. Please see the next picture particularly the second tweet pictured, regarding the reasons for being untruthful, and why that isn't acceptable, particularly for trusted health organisations/professionals. | ||
Such tactics can be argued to go against principles of 'good ethics' particularly where (public) health is concerned, and where not likely to be obvious, context (as provided above with coffee etc.) should be provided. This is not unreasonable, the public expects high standards, when reading about things that are used to make health choices. Please see the next picture particularly the second tweet pictured, regarding the reasons for being untruthful, and why that isn't acceptable, particularly for trusted health organisations/professionals. | |||
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Lumping several categories together to create another category, for example summing all the categories together and calling that, 'ever use' or something even more obscure. | Lumping several categories together to create another category, for example summing all the categories together and calling that, 'ever use' or something even more obscure. | ||
=== Graphs that are confusing, or that lack a scale or other context === | |||
[[File:Screenshot from 2022-11-06 16-24-44.png|alt=Screenshot from twitter CDC graph posted without context, that the numbers shown are of the 9.8% who use the devices at all. |left|thumb|Screenshot from twitter CDC graph posted without context, that the numbers shown are of the 9.8% who use the devices at all. ]] | |||
The screenshot shown includes a tweet that is misleading, in that there is no context, it can easily be taken to say 55.3% of youth use disposable devices, when it is again a percentage of a percentage, so 55.3% of 9.8%. It is no wonder that even those doing things right, can become confused. | |||
Agencies like the CDC, when communicating with the general public, have a responsibility to ensure they make the information clear, and easy to understand. You can reasonably expect such a graph to contain the information required, to see what scale is used, and what it represents, without having to click a link to further information. | |||
=== Unusual or confusing definitions === | === Unusual or confusing definitions === | ||
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