Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38902264›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

The sociodemographic correlates of conspiracism.

Adam Enders, Casey Klofstad, Amanda Diekman, Hugo Drochon, Joel Rogers de Waal, Shane Littrell, Kamal Premaratne, Daniel Verdear, Stefan Wuchty, Joseph Uscinski

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Adam EndersDepartment of Political Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA.
Casey KlofstadDepartment of Political Science, University of Miami, 1300 Campo Sano Blvd., Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA.
Amanda DiekmanDepartment of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, 47405, USA.
Hugo DrochonSchool of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
Joel Rogers de WaalYouGov United Kingdom, Cambridge, EC1Y 8RT, UK.
Shane LittrellMunk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3K9, Canada.
Kamal PremaratneDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, 33146, USA.
Daniel VerdearDepartment of Computer Science, University of Miami, Miami, 33146, USA.
Stefan WuchtyDepartment of Computer Science, University of Miami, Miami, 33146, USA.
Joseph UscinskiDepartment of Political Science, University of Miami, 1300 Campo Sano Blvd., Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA. uscinski@miami.edu.

Funding

National Science Foundation 2123618National Science Foundation 2123635
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Despite hundreds of studies examining belief in conspiracy theories, it is still unclear who-demographically-is most likely to believe such theories. To remedy this knowledge gap, we examine survey data containing various operationalizations of conspiracism across diverse sociopolitical contexts. Study 1 employs a 2021 U.S. survey (n = 2021) to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and beliefs in 39 conspiracy theories. Study 2 similarly employs a survey of 20 countries (n = 26,416) and 11 conspiracy theory beliefs. Study 3 reports results from a 2020 U.S. survey (n = 2015) measuring perceptions about which groups are engaging in conspiracies. Study 4 interrogates data from nine U.S. surveys (2012-2022; n = 14,334) to examine the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and generalized conspiracy thinking. Study 5 synchronizes studies 1-4 to provide an intersectional analysis of conspiracy theory belief. Across studies, we observe remarkably consistent patterns: education, income, age (older), and White identification are negatively related to conspiracism, while Black identification is positively related. We conclude by discussing why conspiracy theories may appeal most to historically marginalized groups and how our findings can inform efforts to mitigate the negative effects of conspiracy theories.

Indexed as

AgeConspiracy theoryEducationGenderIncomeIntersectionalityRace

Identifiers

PMID38902264
PMCPMC11190281

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.