Misinformation Knowledge Synthesis: Using Meta-Analysis to Develop Interdisciplinary Interventions

Abstract

Due to the disciplinary silo effect of academic research, there is the need to consolidate and synthesize theories for misinformation from multiple disciplines. While the call has been made for the integration necessary to qualify interdisciplinary research, there has been little progress nor substantial efforts made toward this goal. Current challenges include departmental dynamics, the lack of training and resources to support interdisciplinary research, or pressures made by the tenure-track promotion system. Therefore, we propose a method of consolidating top theories and frameworks derived from reviews of scholarly literature from multiple disciplines. This would require a systematic review of systematic reviews encompassing misinformation and its relevant derivations, being mindful that coming to a consensus using terminology remains one of the chief challenges of interdisciplinary work. In addition to identifying the top theories used in research, an overview of the epistemological origins as well as a relevant application could be used as a visual framework to bridge the vast gulfs dividing each school of thought. Another way to discover what disciplines are in collaboration is to visualize the social network connections formed through co-citation analysis. With this method of meta-analysis and subsequent synthesis, more comprehensive understandings will develop, improving both the automated detection methods for misinformation and interventions to mitigate its effects.