Novel Validated Index for the Measurement of Disinformation Susceptibility at the County Level

Michael X Jin; Sangita Rajan; Carlos E Gary Bicas; Max Hao; Letian Dong; Beckett Mufson; Imran Hafiz

doi:10.7759/cureus.15305

Novel Validated Index for the Measurement of Disinformation Susceptibility at the County Level

Cureus. 2021 May 28;13(5):e15305. doi: 10.7759/cureus.15305.

Authors

Michael X Jin¹, Sangita Rajan², Carlos E Gary Bicas³, Max Hao¹, Letian Dong⁴, Beckett Mufson⁵, Imran Hafiz⁶

Affiliations

¹ Radiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, USA.
² Data Science, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
³ Planetary Scientist, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, USA.
⁴ Economics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
⁵ Journalism, Hofstra University, Hempstead, USA.
⁶ Journalism, Duke University, Durham, USA.

Abstract

In the past decade, disinformation has become an increasingly dangerous enemy of public health, scientific advancement, and social stability. To address and counter this trend, it is essential to first identify communities most at risk for disinformation. The Jin-Hafiz Disinformation Index (JHDI) is developed and validated as a tool to counter disinformation and address deficits of good information on a county level in the United States. Once vulnerable communities are identified with the JHDI, targeted interventions with community partnerships can be conducted to address knowledge concerns.

Keywords: community health; corona virus; disinformation; government; index; measurement validation; public health.