Study title

This data set contains two experimental studies, the studies investigated how perceived information sources would affect readers' decision making about belief and feeling while they read tweet texts. In the behavioural study, we aimed to validate stimuli that were then used in the fMRI experiment. We examined our hypothesis that tweet texts accompanied by more often used information sources of individuals (i.e. the logos of media) would significantly increase the degrees of their belief about the texts, compared with tweet texts accompanied by the information sources that they never used. In the fMRI study, we hypothesised that perceived information sources would modulate one's decision-making on belief and feeling about tweets, and that the process would involve social emotional brain regions.This collaborative project between the Neuropolitics Research Lab (NRlabs), at the University of Edinburgh and Full Fact, the UK's independent fact-checking organization, employs neuroscientific, psychological and behavioural insights to help us to understand what makes Brexit-related claims spread on digital platforms. Using cutting edge scientific techniques in big data analysis this project offers new insights into how citizens' expectations on Brexit and its consequences are shaped in an increasingly digital world. It will inform organisations on how to communicate what is often dry and complex information related to Brexit in a credible, trustworthy and memorable way using digital communications. These insights will be essential for the strategic management, implementation and public communication of the Article 50 process for the UK's withdrawal from the EU. The question of what constitutes a fact (or an alternative fact) has perhaps never been more salient in public debate. The thirst for 'facts' during the Brexit referendum campaign was a key feature of public debate as was the question of whose facts count. The role of experts in the delivery of factual...