Scientists’ behaviour towards information disorder: a systematic review

Abstract

How are scientists coping with misinformation and disinformation? Focusing on the triangle scientists/mis-disinformation/behaviour, this study aims to systematically review the literature to answer three research questions: What are the main approaches described in the literature concerning scientists’ behaviour towards mis-disinformation? Which techniques or strategies are discussed to tackle information disorder? Is there a research gap in including scientists as subjects of research projects concerning information disorder tackling strategies? Following PRISMA 2020 statement, a checklist and flow diagram for reporting systematic reviews, a set of 14 documents was analysed. Findings revealed that the literature might be interpreted following Wilson and Maceviciute’s model as creation, acceptance and dissemination categories. Crossing over these categories, we advanced three standing points to analyse scientists’ positions towards mis-disinformation: inside, inside-out and outside-in. The stage ‘Creation/facilitation’ was the least present in our sample, but ‘Use/rejection/acceptance’ and ‘Dissemination’ were depicted in the literature retrieved. Most of the literature approaches were about inside-out perspectives, meaning that the topic is mainly studied concerning communication issues. Regarding the strategies against the information disorder, findings suggest that preventive and reactive strategies are simultaneously used. A strong appeal to a multidisciplinary effort against mis-disinformation is widely present, but there is a gap in including scientists as subjects of research projects.