Misinformation—How it Plays a Role in Our Perceptions of the Political Realm

Abstract

If survey recipients are presented with negative misinformation, then they will be unsatisfied with the president elects time in office. If survey recipients are presented with positive misinformation, then they will be unsatisfied with the president elects time in office. This research takes the form of a survey which will be sent Winona State students to record their responses. I will test my hypothesis with one survey, which will include several demographic questions. These questions will be paired with questions that present “fake news” or misinformation about president elect Donald Trump. The misinformation will present him in a negative light. The other set of questions that show misinformation will show president elect Donald Trump in a positive light. This set of questions will be randomized in each survey. The end of the survey will then ask a question about the recipient\u27s satisfaction with presidents\u27 term so far. The idea is that the fake news presented will affect the recipient\u27s satisfaction with the president\u27s term so far. If recipients are presented with positive fake news, they will be more satisfied with the president\u27s term so far. If the recipients are presented with negative fake news they will be dissatisfied with the president\u27s term so far. If the demographics in each survey are roughly 50% equal, then my hypothesis will be correct. I will get my data from the survey responses and analyze the answers to either support my hypothesis or disprove my hypothesis