Systematic Review of Fake News’s Continued Influence Effect (CIE)

This systematic review offers foundational insights into the research of the Continued Influence Effect (CIE) or backfire effect within the realm of misinformation. It collates findings from both a quantitative (methodological characteristics) and qualitative (variables and their interplay with the central concept of “continued influence effect or backfire effect”) standpoint.
Drawn from the database of the Web of Science, a sample of peer-reviewed quantitative journal articles (n = 38) published from 2019 to 2023 was coded in terms of the measurement employed to assess the CIE following the debunking of misinformation, the dependent variables used to measure the CIE, the factors that foster the development and spread of CIE, and the interventions that have successfully reduced CIE. A systematic conceptual map of the CIE is presented to summarize the complex dynamics of this phenomenon. The review acknowledges the
inconsistent findings from prior studies, and it concludes with a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing future research on CIE.