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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Political Polarization And The Dissemination Of Misinformation: The United States Pandemic Response As A Cautionary Tale, Mary Giglio
Honors College
This thesis discusses the failings of theUnited States response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it has been shaped by the nation’s intense political polarization and the widespread dissemination of misinformation. In this thesis, I critically examine the government’s initial response to the pandemic, including its lack of preparedness and the ineffectiveness of its eventual policies. I also attempt to explain the influence of political polarization on the states, resulting in congressional gridlock, as well as wildly varying policies regarding lockdowns and mask mandates. I connect the increasing prevalence of misinformation today to the historically recent rise of postmodernism, a …
The Covid-19 Misinformation Challenge: An Asynchronous Approach To Information Literacy, Jennifer Bonnet, Senta Sellers
The Covid-19 Misinformation Challenge: An Asynchronous Approach To Information Literacy, Jennifer Bonnet, Senta Sellers
Library Staff Publications
The coronavirus pandemic introduced a "new normal" to the everyday lives of people the world over, including an evolving understanding of the virus’s spread and long-term impact. With each new development, misinformation about COVID-19 proliferated, sowing confusion and uncertainty about everything from causes to cures. In response, two librarians designed The COVID-19 Misinformation Challenge, a weeklong program aimed at discerning coronavirus fact from fiction on social media, in the news, and in academic publishing. Based on the number of program participants and their overwhelmingly positive feedback, the Challenge proved to be popular, fun, and educational.