2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Japan in the age of fake news and populism
| Project/Area Number |
20K13677
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 08010:Sociology-related
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| Research Institution | Tsuda University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | fake news / conspiracy theory / populism / infodemic / health literacy / news framing / disinformation |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
The aim of this research was to establish a theoretical framework to model and examine populism and fake news in Japan. Overall, the project objectives were achieved. A multidisciplinary theoretical framework was established together with 4 quantitative studies. Study 1 focused how to counter of fake news (infodemic) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study 2 evaluated the extent of conspiracy theory beliefs in Japan. Study 3 examined whether Japan’s strict refugee policy was supported or criticised by Japanese news media. Study 4 developed a quantitative chronicle of how the term ‘fake news’ had been depicted in Japanese news media. The findings of the 4 studies were published in 4 peer-reviewed academic journal articles and 1 chapter in an edited book.
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| Free Research Field |
社会学関連
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
This research empirically demonstrated the characteristics of populism and fake news in Japan in the digital age using an original multidisciplinary framework. It covered topics from the COVID-19 infodemic, conspiracy theories, to media depictions of controversial topics like fake news and refugees.
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