Context

“Without information, people can neither understand nor effectively respond to the events that shape their world.”(UNHCR report).

Correct information is essential for resilience during disasters. The more precise and up-to-date information people have on the (expected) impact of a disaster on themselves, the better their ability to respond in a timely and effective way. The more stressful a situation is perceived to be, the more urgently people will seek to clarify it in order to alleviate their own anxiety. In such situations, rumors can compensate for information and knowledge gaps. Uncertainty in a threatening situation paired with information scarcity can be a breeding ground for misinformation.

Goals

We are exploring people’s susceptibility to misinformation during a disaster (“hot phase”) to learn about factors that can increase resilience and can be addressed in the “cold phase”. Specifically, we ask:

• How does the presence of misinformation affect actions in mild compared to severe disasters?
• Are people more susceptible to act on misinformation during stressful situations (severe disasters) compared to less stressful situations (mild disasters)?
• Which factors “protect” against a potential susceptibility that can be addressed in the cold phase?

Methods

Experimental study using a virtual reality environment to simulate a disaster event with participants in 2-3 countries.

Expected outcomes

The study will provide insights into the extent to which people are susceptible to misinformation during disaster events of varying severity. The results will inform disaster preparedness initiatives and relate to Union Disaster Resilience Goal #2 “Prepare - To increase risk awareness and preparedness of the population”.