UNEATLANTICO researchers carry out a project on the accuracy in the detection of true news versus fake news

04 Dec 2024
UNEATLANTICO researchers carry out a project on the accuracy in the detection of true news versus fake news

The doctor in Psychology, teacher and researcher of the European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO), David Herrero, together with Juan Luis Martín, academic director of the degree in Psychology (PSI) of UNEATLANTICO, Dr. Esther Setién, Dr. Ángel Rojas, Dr. Isabel Diego and Dr.Carla Álvarez, together with Dr. Ana Visiers, academic director of the degrees in Journalism (PER), Audiovisual Communication (CA) and Advertising and Public Relations (PRP) and Helena Garay, responsible for the area of Cultural Extension, are carrying out a project of the European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO). Ana Visiers, academic director of the degrees in Journalism (PER), Audiovisual Communication (CA) and Advertising and Public Relations (PRP) and Helena Garay, head of the Cultural Extension area, are carrying out a project on the accuracy in the detection of true news vs fake news in relation to racism.

The project combines psychology with communication for the analysis of psychological projectors on the accuracy of credibility of true and fake news with respect to a specific group: immigrants.

To this end, four types of news have been selected; some true in favour of the immigration collective, false in favour of the collective, true against it and false in favour of it, thus being able to see all the perspectives. The study consists of two phases; a first phase, which involves the analysis of self-reported variables through an online survey and a second phase based on measuring the same variables but adding the experimental part of the laboratory in which the polygraph will be used.

From this, the accuracy of these news items and biases will be seen, with people more likely to believe pro-immigration news and people more likely to believe anti-immigration news. From there, we have different physiological and subjective indicators, the objective being to see which ones predict the detection of true or false news.

As for who can participate in the study, in addition to psychology and communication students, the entire UNEATLANTICO community is encouraged to take part.