223.640.01
Identifying and Mitigating Misinformation to Improve Trust in Public Health
Course Status
Cancelled
Course Status
Cancelled
Location
East Baltimore
Term
1st Term
Department
International Health
Credit(s)
2
Academic Year
2024 - 2025
Instruction Method
In-person
Monday, 10:00 - 11:50am
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Resources
Prerequisite
-Health misinformation is spreading so rapidly that it may soon outpace evidence-based information.
-Are you curious in learning what makes health misinformation go viral?
-Do you have an interest in identifying and mitigating health misinformation to improve public health outcomes?
Examines misinformation and its role in influencing behaviors generally, and health behaviors specifically. Relies on literature from a wide range of disciplines and perspectives, such as communication, political science, and sociology. Exposes individuals to the harms of misinformation on health outcomes, and uncover key approaches used in mitigating misinformation efforts. Most evidence related to misinformation interventions is from high-income settings. As such, this course will primarily focus on harms and strategies from high-income settings but will include discussions related to low-and middle-income contexts.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
- Apply evidence-based strategies, such as inoculation and pre-bunking, to the practice of health communication.
- Identify key strategies used in spreading misinformation.
- Advocate for policies for flagging misinformation for use in a variety of organizations, including social media platforms
- Articulate the role of media, especially social media platforms and companies, in misinformation and disinformation
- Convey the impact of misinformation on decision-making, including health decisions
- Use a standard set of criteria to assess credibility of information, including health information
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
- 30% Quizzes
- 25% Paper(s)
- 25% Group Presentation
- 20% Participation