Results of the study showed a negative relationship between attention to the correction image and misinformation credibility. The humorous condition garnered a significantly larger amount of attention to the misinformation text and the correctional image, compared to the non-humorous condition.

Effect of Humorous Observational Correction on Attention in HPV Vaccine Misinformation

Misinformation credibility positively predicted HPV misperceptions, while correction credibility negatively predicted HPV misperceptions. The non-humorous correction received higher ratings of credibility than the humorous condition, but neither correction was more effective in reducing the credibility assessment of the misinformation tweet.

Effect of Humorous Observational Correction on Credibility in HPV Vaccine Misinformation

A Twitter interaction exhibiting a logic-based correction to the harmfulness of the HPV vaccine was presented with two conditions: One used a humorous image, while the other used a non-humorous—but equally informative—image.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Tendency for people to evaluate an issue more accurately after observing someone else being corrected on the same issue, generally over social media.

Observational Correction

Kim, S. C., Vraga, E. K., & Cook, J. (2021). An Eye Tracking Approach to Understanding Misinformation and Correction Strategies on Social Media: The Mediating Role of Attention and Credibility to Reduce HPV Vaccine Misperceptions. Health communication, 36(13), 1687–1696. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2020.1787933

An Eye Tracking Approach to Understanding
Misinformation and Correction Strategies on
Social Media: The Mediating Role of Attention and
Credibility to Reduce HPV Vaccine Misperceptions


 - Observation brings attention to the misinformation and its correction.
 - Observation challenges credibility of misinformation and its correction.

Causes of Observational Correction

 - Fact-based: Explains relevant facts that conflict with the misleading claims
 - Source-based: Identifies untrustworthy motives and characteristics of the misinformation source
 - Logic-based: Uses rhetorical approaches to identify flawed reasoning in the misleading claims

Types of Observational Correction

 - Facilitates serious discourse by making the concepts easier to consume
 - Engages audiences that are less engaged on a topic
 - Enhances perceived credibility of the messenger

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