Our ESoEM helps organize findings about BCT into a coherent framework, highlights key social contexts & invites testing in other countries and longitudinal data.
Full preprint here:📄 doi.org/10.21203/rs....

This may be of interest to: @psychunseen.bsky.social @mikeybiddlestone.bsky.social

🧵11/11

I also forgot to ask for the classic photo of me presenting because I was a bit nervous, but here is a picture of a cute bunny I met earlier today at the DU campus.

Thank you so much!

What does it all mean?

In my reading of the results, journalists might fill the gap in trust even when the political scene is disappointing. This is especially relevant now when, almost every day, there is a political decision we cannot grasp. Let's make it a call for even better journalism.

🧵6/6

There is also one more interesting finding.

Political interest was associated with higher conspiracy thinking. This further erodes the (in my opinion inaccurate) image of "ignorant conspiracists" since, in our sample, people thinking conspiratively actually *are* interested in politics.

🧵5/6

And here is the fun part!

One of the key findings was the interplay between trust in politicians and journalists. People who trust journalists think less conspiratively, even when they distrust politicians.

🧵4/6

We also looked at trust in journalists—and that, too, was clearly tied to lower conspiracy thinking. Again, the more people trusted journalists, the less they engaged in conspiracy thinking.

🧵3/6

Trust in politicians stood out the most (in a negative direction). In other words, when people trust politicians more, they tend to think less conspiratively.

🧵2/6

And finally, a little personal goodbye from Old Main, my favorite companion on the walks to the grad office – along with squirrels and bunnies!

So here is my shoutout to @mattjord.bsky.social, @christopherali.bsky.social, @saschameinrath.bsky.social, @sydneyforde.bsky.social, @abbysimmerman.bsky.social, Homero Gil de Zúñiga, Martin Marinos, and many more from the College of Communications and grad community. I miss you already!

The main lesson I learned is that no matter where I am or what happens, it is the people around me who make me happy. I was lucky to be part of a wonderful community of inspiring scholars who are also lovely people.

Thank you!

Thank you so much for this! I am doing my PhD on conspiracy thinking among news audiences, and I'd love to join the network of people researching conspiracy theories. So, if you could add me, I would greatly appreciate it!