Why Science Matters: Misinformation and Disinformation

This short series on why science matters was not aimed at outlining the specific mechanics of scientific research. Explaining p-values, statistical significance, confidence intervals, relative risk reduction, research study design, and many other technical aspects of researching was not the goal. My thoughts on the concepts of the hypothesis, peer review, and biomedical ethical considerations of research were meant to set the foundation to discuss the nemesis of scientific exploration and truth, misinformation and disinformation.

Misinformation and disinformation, when it comes to science, are not new concepts. They have been around for ages and have acted as competitors to scientific truths. Misinformation is false information that is spread, regardless of the intent to mislead. Misinformation doesn’t care about the intent, and so is simply a term for any kind of wrong or false information. Disinformation, on the other hand, is false information that is spread with an intent to misinform. There is usually a malicious motivation for intentionally spreading the false information. Both misinformation and disinformation undermine any progress that may come from accurate and truthful information, whether it be in the field of science, politics, business, or any other aspect of our lives. However, for the purposes of why science matters, we will discuss the concept of misinformation and disinformation as it pertains to science and healthcare.

In the fields of science and healthcare, misinformation and disinformation can have significant effects on the individual and the community. These effects range from personal decisions to use alternative, unproven treatments for cancers over scientifically studied, standard of care treatments that affect individual health to declining public health measures to control the spread of diseases that affect a community’s health. The motivation for these decisions is often rooted in the misunderstanding of science through accepting readily available misinformation and disinformation. The unfortunate consequences of accepting this misinformation and disinformation as fact can lead to detrimental health outcomes of both individuals and society.

This misleading and incorrect information is readily available in our society and often spreads quicker than the scientifically accurate truths. As communication has advanced to bring our community together, so too has it created an avenue for the rapid transmission of misinformation and disinformation through paper products, television and video broadcasting, internet exploration, and social media platforms. In this day and age, a tremendous amount of information is shared and communicated in an unprecedented fashion. It is often very difficult to sort through it all and determine what is true and what is false. While the intent may vary between misinformation and disinformation, the manner in which this information is packaged makes it difficult to differentiate it from truthful and accurate information, regardless of the intent. This packaging comes in the form of well-intended emails or social media posts sent from friends or family, strategically named sources that intentionally camouflage the real motivations of an organization, quoting statistics or facts out of context, or using fringe professionals to present inaccurate information under the guise of being an authority by virtue of their professional title.

Nevertheless, in our current climate of clickbait headlines and searching for eyeballs to view publications, scientific communication can fall prey to an “attention economy” as well. While science and the scientific method are pure, humans who perform the science can be misled by pressures of publication, prestige, finances, and other lures. Scientists are not immune to human nature and scientific publications may be sensationalized, exaggerated, or misinterpreted. Pre-published content is often sought out for news outlets or online influencers to get the latest and greatest scoop on scientific discoveries. The best that we can do in these instances is hope that these claims are vetted by the scientific community and that the information being published is being given a platform in a legitimate, respected publication. With that said, if an earth-shattering claim or conclusion is published in an unknown journal that is driven by charging authors to publish in their journal (instead of charging a subscription to readers for viewing materials), a healthy dose of skepticism is warranted. That is not to say that all online, open access journals are suspect (free to view online because the authors cover the costs), but there are some of these journals that have a significant incentive to accept scientific manuscripts because that is how they make an income and their rigors of reviewing scientific methodology, ethics, and peer review may be questionable. These journals are often labeled as predatory journals. If something sounds too good to be true and leading, respected journals haven’t showcased the research yet, it is likely too good to be true.

Despite the packaging and manner of presentation of information, we have the ability to combat misinformation and disinformation if we understand how science works. We have learned that true science is built on ethics, a defined and testable question, and critical review by other scientists. We also know that the scientific method is pure. If scientist follow the methodology, have scientific integrity, and accurately present their data, there is a high likelihood that we are receiving good information. So, when we receive information from others and want to know if it is something that we should incorporate into our thought process or not, we need to reflect on the original source of the information and how it was obtained. Not everyone understands the complexities of science and the scientific method. However, everyone can understand how to identify an ethical study, a study originating from a good question, a study that was vetted by researchers’ peers, and the conflicts of interest that may be present among some scientists and journals. These elements show us why good science matters and help us differentiate fact from falsehood. The critical thinking that arises from knowing how science is supposed to be conducted is a good defense to falling prey to scientific misinformation and disinformation. However, if all else fails and you have questions about a scientific discovery, health treatment, medical procedure, or the like, reach out to your primary physician or other trusted physicians or scientists in the community to help you discriminate between accurate information and misinformation or disinformation.

Do you have further questions about scientific or healthcare-related misinformation or disinformation? If you do, please feel free to send me your questions in the comment section!