A Novel Study To Determine Fake News Quotient: Perception Based Study Among Lis Students

Abstract

Fake news can be an image, a video or an imitative news article often designed to misguide masses through wrong information. Fake news identification through normal observation is not an easy task. It needs thorough observation of facts and the process itself requires some factual steps. Public discussion forums are always empowering citizens by giving some identification properties which are often associated with fake news and also telling the follow up steps when they find some doubtful news items. The current study is an evaluative process to measure the ability of library and information science(LIS) students to identify fake news. Nine properties were identified and clubbed as Questions on Fake news Identification(QFI), based student’s awareness level to those points, a resultant QFI quotient was measured out through a systematically designed process for the study. Similarly, eight activities were noted out and clubbed as Questions on Fake news Tackling Activities (QFTA), a QFTA quotient was measured out following the similar process of QFI quotient. The average QFI quotient and QFTA quotient of LIS students were 0.67 and 0.73 respectively. A significant correlation of 0.570 between QFI quotient and QFTA quotient helped to conclude that LIS students have a strong ability to identify and stop the spreading of fake news.