This study proposes a theory-oriented model that examines the predictors and outcomes of people’s verification of COVID-19 misinformation. Using an online experiment with 400 U.S. adults, this study showed that those who believed that others might be influenced by misinformation and that such influence had serious consequences for others as well as those with a higher level of fear and anxiety were more likely to perform institutional verification by using search engines, prestigious medical sites, or fact-checking sites. The intention to conduct institutional verification increased individuals’ efficacy beliefs regarding correcting misinformation, which motivated them to correct misinformation on social media.

本研究提出了一个以理论为导向的模型，该模型检查人们验证 COVID-19 错误信息的预测因素和结果。这项研究对 400 名美国成年人进行了一项在线实验，结果表明，那些认为他人可能会受到错误信息影响并且这种影响对其他人造成严重后果的人以及那些恐惧和焦虑程度较高的人更有可能执行机构通过使用搜索引擎、著名的医疗网站或事实检查网站进行验证。进行机构验证的意图增加了个人对纠正错误信息的有效性信念，这促使他们纠正社交媒体上的错误信息。