Strategies for correcting misinformation related to gambling: Lessons learned from public health

Session Title

Session 1-4-C: Lightning Talks

Presentation Type

Lightning Talk

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

23-5-2023 3:45 PM

End Date

23-5-2023 5:15 PM

Disciplines

Health Communication | Public Health | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

People who gamble often hold erroneous beliefs related to gambling. Some such beliefs include superstitions related to particular games or believing it is important to engage in ritualistic practices to increase one’s chances of winning. Correcting these misconceptions is an important step in helping people with gambling-related problems. Drawing from recommendations in public health, we review effective strategies for correcting misinformation both online and in interpersonal settings. For online interactions, these include (1) providing coherent alternative explanations for misinformed beliefs, (2) sharing links to credible sources, and (3) repeating corrections to reinforce the new information. When providing corrections in interpersonal settings, individuals need to, (1) work to avoid jargon, (2) ask probing questions to get at the root of the misinformed belief, and, importantly, (3) avoid telling the other person that they are wrong as this could trigger feelings of psychological reactance, inadvertently reinforcing a misinformed belief.

Implications: Correcting misinformation is an important public health initiative. If not done properly, corrections can inadvertently cause boomerang effects and strengthen misinformed beliefs. Understanding effective strategies for correcting misinformation is invaluable for individuals working with people who are high-risk gamblers.

Keywords

Misinformation, misinformation correction, gambling, psychological reactance

Author Bios

Seth P. McCullock, Ph.D. is a Research & Evaluation Scientist with the Cambridge Health Alliance Division on Addiction, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital. His main research interest involves designing persuasive messages to promote behavior change, especially in the context of health-related stigma and misinformation. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Purdue University.

Funding Sources

None

Competing Interests

None

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May 23rd, 3:45 PM May 23rd, 5:15 PM

Strategies for correcting misinformation related to gambling: Lessons learned from public health

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

People who gamble often hold erroneous beliefs related to gambling. Some such beliefs include superstitions related to particular games or believing it is important to engage in ritualistic practices to increase one’s chances of winning. Correcting these misconceptions is an important step in helping people with gambling-related problems. Drawing from recommendations in public health, we review effective strategies for correcting misinformation both online and in interpersonal settings. For online interactions, these include (1) providing coherent alternative explanations for misinformed beliefs, (2) sharing links to credible sources, and (3) repeating corrections to reinforce the new information. When providing corrections in interpersonal settings, individuals need to, (1) work to avoid jargon, (2) ask probing questions to get at the root of the misinformed belief, and, importantly, (3) avoid telling the other person that they are wrong as this could trigger feelings of psychological reactance, inadvertently reinforcing a misinformed belief.

Implications: Correcting misinformation is an important public health initiative. If not done properly, corrections can inadvertently cause boomerang effects and strengthen misinformed beliefs. Understanding effective strategies for correcting misinformation is invaluable for individuals working with people who are high-risk gamblers.