Applying Misinformation Interventions to Library Instruction and Outreach

Abstract

This narrative review examines what misinformation interventions—both before misconception (prebunking), and after misconception (debunking)—are effective, and how they can be applied to library information literacy instruction and outreach. To conduct this review, the researcher conducted carefully considered searches in several library science, education, psychology, and communication databases. The review revealed that there is considerable potential for librarians to combat misinformation using the interventions explored in the literature, both in their instruction and in their outreach/programming efforts. Some ideas for how this could be accomplished are explored.

Keywords

• misinformation
• inoculation technique
• debunking
• prebunking
• media literacy
• information literacy