Countering Deepfake Misinformation Among Low Digital Literacy Populations

Last registered on January 08, 2024
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Countering Deepfake Misinformation Among Low Digital Literacy Populations
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012005
Initial registration date
August 29, 2023

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
September 04, 2023, 6:31 AM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
January 08, 2024, 1:08 AM EST

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country
Pakistan
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Ayesha Ali
Affiliation
Lahore University of Management Sciences
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Ihsan Ayyub Qazi
PI Affiliation
Lahore University of Management Sciences
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Agha Ali Raza
PI Affiliation
Lahore University of Management Sciences
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2023-09-15
End date
2024-02-01
Keywords
Electoral, Other
Additional Keywords
Social media, misinformation, digital literacy, educational interventions
JEL code(s)
D83, L86, L82, O10
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The proliferation of misinformation can increase polarization, erode trust in public institutions, and pose significant risks to democracy. This problem is exacerbated in developing countries where social media growth has brought many online, many of whom lack the essential digital skills needed to competently navigate digital spaces. Through a randomized controlled trial in Lahore, Pakistan, we test whether interventions designed to educate social media users about misinformation (including deep- fake misinformation) can improve indicators of truth discernment, reduce emotional reactions to news items, and decrease polarization.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Ali, Ayesha, Ihsan Ayyub Qazi and Agha Ali Raza. 2024. "Countering Deepfake Misinformation Among Low Digital Literacy Populations." AEA RCT Registry. January 08. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12005-1.1
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2023-09-15
Intervention End Date
2024-02-01

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Accuracy rate
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
The rate at which the respondent accurately identifies news as true or false.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Our experiment has been designed to include two stages to ensure that subjects do not leave with inaccurate beliefs about political elites while ensuring a valid control group for both stages of the experiment. In stage-1 RCT, we will test the effect of priming participants about misinformation (including deepfake misinformation) and paying attention to accuracy. Respondents will be informed about the veracity of news stories after they have seen/heard the news stories and answered questions about them. Subsequently, the control group will also receive T1 to ensure that all participants have received the same exposure before stage-2. In stage-2 RCT, we will test the remaining three treatments.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization using a random number generator on a computer
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
NA
Sample size: planned number of observations
2800 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
700 per arm
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Lahore University of Management Sciences
IRB Approval Date
2023-07-18
IRB Approval Number
LUMS-IRB/07182023/IAQ-FWA-00030383
Analysis Plan

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Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials