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The Dynamics of Retraction in Epistemic Networks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Travis LaCroix ,
Anders Geil  and
Cailin O’Connor
Travis LaCroix
Affiliation:
To contact the authors, please write to: Travis LaCroix (corresponding author), Mila—Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Department d’informatique et de recherche operationnelle, Universite de Montreal; e-mail: lacroixt@mila.quebec. Anders Geil, Department of Computer Science, Columbia University; e-mail: anders.geil@columbia.edu. Cailin O’Connor, Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, University of California, Irvine; e-mail: cailino@uci.edu.
Anders Geil
Affiliation:
To contact the authors, please write to: Travis LaCroix (corresponding author), Mila—Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Department d’informatique et de recherche operationnelle, Universite de Montreal; e-mail: lacroixt@mila.quebec. Anders Geil, Department of Computer Science, Columbia University; e-mail: anders.geil@columbia.edu. Cailin O’Connor, Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, University of California, Irvine; e-mail: cailino@uci.edu.
Cailin O’Connor
Affiliation:
To contact the authors, please write to: Travis LaCroix (corresponding author), Mila—Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Department d’informatique et de recherche operationnelle, Universite de Montreal; e-mail: lacroixt@mila.quebec. Anders Geil, Department of Computer Science, Columbia University; e-mail: anders.geil@columbia.edu. Cailin O’Connor, Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, University of California, Irvine; e-mail: cailino@uci.edu.
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Abstract

Sometimes retracted or refuted scientific information is used and propagated long after it is understood to be misleading. Likewise, retracted news items may spread and persist, despite being publicly established as false. In this article, we explore the dynamics of retraction using agent-based models of epistemic networks, to see why false beliefs might persist despite retraction. We find that, often, those who received false information simply fail to receive retractions because of social dynamics. Surprisingly, delaying retraction can increase its impact. Further, retractions are most successful when issued by the original source of misinformation, rather than a separate source.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 88 , Issue 3 , July 2021 , pp. 415 - 438
Copyright
Copyright 2021 by the Philosophy of Science Association. All rights reserved.

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Footnotes

†

This material is based on work supported by National Science Foundation grants 1535139 and 1922424. Many thanks for their support. Thanks to the UC Irvine Social Dynamics group, members of the Department of Philosophy at Australian National University, and the anonymous referees for feedback on this work.

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