DeMuKo – Self-Determined and Informed: Understanding and Preventing Disinformation in Multilingual Contexts – DIPF Subproject

Project Description

The project consortium investigates the specific mechanisms and reception patterns of disinformation in multilingual information environments among migrants in the societal orientation phase. By linking qualitative research on the recipient side with analyses of manipulation strategies on the sender side, the project identifies and systematises target-group-specific vulnerability factors. On this basis, the project develops a low-threshold learning programme that strengthens the target group’s information sovereignty and is sustainably transferred as a digital learning resource into civil society education practice.

The DIPF subproject investigates quantitatively how migrants in the societal orientation phase engage with disinformation and how this affects information evaluation and trust in state and democratic institutions. On this basis, the DIPF identifies reception patterns and target-group-specific vulnerability factors. Central to the subproject is the conception, technical implementation, and sustainable provision of an evidence-based digital learning resource that translates the research results into a low-threshold format for educational practice and self-directed learning. In addition, the DIPF ensures the longterm reuse of data, instruments, and learning materials in research and practice through the implementation of Open Science and FAIR principles. 

Project Objectives

The project aims to support migrants in navigating the increasingly digital information environment in a self-determined and informed manner. It focuses on developing the ability to critically evaluate information in order to assess both the quality and objectivity of content and to better identify targeted disinformation in the native and second language. To this end the project pursues three objectives:

1. to gain an understanding of migrants’ disinformation behaviour and the interrelationships between disinformation, multilingualism and trust in the state through qualitative and quantitative research
2. to systematically record and map disinformation strategies to which migrants are specifically exposed and their impact on trust in the German state
3. to develop and test an evidence-based learning concept to combat disinformation which can be implemented in a low-threshold manner within educational programmes for migrants and used sustainably as a digital (self-)learning resource

Funding

Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space

Cooperations

• Prof. Dr. Joachim Griesbaum, Institute for Information Science and Language Technology, University of Hildesheim
• Prof. Dr. Beatrix Kreß, Institute for Intercultural Communication, University of Hildesheim
• Dr. Juliane Stiller, Grenzenlos Digital e.V., Berlin
• Dr. Violeta Trkulja, Grenzenlos Digital e.V., Berlin
• Katrin Denhard, Volkshochschule Hildesheim gGmbH, Hildesheim

Project Management

Project Team

Project Details