Dataset Information

Does Perceived Lack of Control Lead to Conspiracy Theory Beliefs? Findings from an online MTurk sample.

ABSTRACT: It is widely believed that conspiracy theory beliefs are the product of perceived lack of control. However, to date there is mixed evidence, at best, to support this claim. We consider the reasons why conspiracy theory beliefs do not appear to be based in any straightforward way on control beliefs, interrogating existing findings and presenting new data that call the relationship into question. Across six studies conducted online using MTurk samples, we observed no effect of control manipulations on conspiracy theory beliefs, while replicating previously reported correlational evidence of their association. The results suggest that conspiracy beliefs are not suitable for compensating for threats to control. We discuss possible reasons for the discrepancy between experimental and correlational effects and examine the limitations of the studies.

SUBMITTER: Stojanov A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7430734 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Does Perceived Lack of Control Lead to Conspiracy Theory Beliefs? Findings from an online MTurk sample.

Stojanov Ana A Bering Jesse M JM Halberstadt Jamin J

PloS one 20200817 8

It is widely believed that conspiracy theory beliefs are the product of perceived lack of control. However, to date there is mixed evidence, at best, to support this claim. We consider the reasons why conspiracy theory beliefs do not appear to be based in any straightforward way on control beliefs, interrogating existing findings and presenting new data that call the relationship into question. Across six studies conducted online using MTurk samples, we observed no effect of control manipulation ...[more]

PMID: 32804940

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Project description:Togo is a low-income country in West Africa. Estimates from Our World in Data suggest that only 25% of the Togolese population have received at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine by June 2023. Whilst the early phase of the pandemic vaccine rollout across 2021 was dominated by higher-income countries taking much of the available supply, there have long been sufficient supplies for all nations. Thus, there remains a need to understand reasons for low uptake in countries such as Togo, here focusing on population confidence and trust, essentially characteristics that could potentially be addressed within health promotion strategies. Two cross-sectional telephone surveys of Togo residents were conducted in December 2020 and January 2022. These surveys asked questions around perceptions of COVID-19, trust in public health messaging, belief in conspiracy theories, and hesitancy around COVID-19 vaccination. Analyses here focus on unvaccinated respondents. Across Survey 1 (N = 1430) and Survey 2 (N = 212), 65% of respondents were men, and 47% lived in Lomé (capital city of Togo). Between Surveys 1 and 2, overall hesitancy (33.0% to 58.0% respectively) and beliefs in conspiracy theories (29% to 65%) significantly increased. Using logistics regression, governmental mistrust was the strongest significant predictor of hesitancy (OR: 2.90). Participants who indicated agreement or uncertainty with at least one conspiracy belief also predicted greater vaccine hesitancy (OR: 1.36). Proactive approaches to public health messaging, that better understand reasons for hesitancy across different demographics, can support uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations within Togo. This includes health promotion campaigns that use locally and nationally trusted knowledge providers (e.g. the health service or religious leaders) for greatest effectiveness at reducing impact of misinformation. Key future research should focus around knowledge gaps and areas of mistrust created by the pandemic, such as the impact of misinformation upon routine immunisation uptake.

Dataset Information

Does Perceived Lack of Control Lead to Conspiracy Theory Beliefs? Findings from an online MTurk sample.

Publications

Does Perceived Lack of Control Lead to Conspiracy Theory Beliefs? Findings from an online MTurk sample.

Similar Datasets

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