News

A novel theory on how conspiracy theories take shape

In a new book, Dolores Albarracín, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, and colleagues show that two factors—the conservative media and societal fear and anxiety—have driven recent widespread conspiracies, from Pizzagate to those around COVID-19 vaccines.

• Culture & Media
• Health Communication
• Political Communication

Mandates Likely Work to Increase Vaccine Uptake

Rather than causing a backlash, vaccination requirements will succeed at getting more people inoculated, according to research from PIK Professor Dolores Albarracín and colleagues at Penn.

• Health Communication

Annenberg Welcomes 21 New Research Staff, Visiting Scholars, and Postdoctoral Fellows

This accomplished group specializes in studying topics that include persuasive health messaging, Black feminism, media policy, and much more.

Misplaced Trust: When Trust in Science Fosters Pseudoscience

Believing in science isn't enough to protect people from misinformation.

• Health Communication

Dolores Albarracín Appointed Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor

A world-renowned social psychologist, she will be jointly appointed at the Annenberg School and Penn Nursing.

• Health Communication

Vaccine Science and Side Effects: How News Messages Affect Views on Vaccination

News about vaccine safety increases public acceptance of vaccines, but less so when juxtaposed with a personal narrative about side effects.

• Health Communication

Concerns over Infecting Others Matter More for Vaccination in Sparsely Populated Areas

Concerns over infecting others play a greater role in people’s willingness to be vaccinated in sparsely populated areas than dense urban ones, according to a new study.

• Health Communication

How Misinformed Vaccine Beliefs Affect Policy Views

Vaccine misperceptions are the strongest driver of opposition to pro-vaccination public policies.

• Health Communication
• Political Communication

Countering Anti-Vaccination Influences from Social Media — with Conversation

The flu vaccine is considered one of the great achievements in public health, but social media messages still abound with skepticism and falsehoods about vaccination.

• Health Communication

Use of Conservative and Social Media Linked with COVID-19 Misinformation

People who rely on mainstream TV and print news are better informed.

• Health Communication
• Media Institutions