Data in the Context of Misinformation: A Scoping Review

Data, numeric or visual, can contain misinformation and contribute to the spread of false information. Yet the role of data has received little attention in misinformation research. This scoping review analyzes 41 studies across various disciplines and synthesizes how data are processed within a dual-process framework to map research on data and misinformation. The review identifies an overall lack of research in this area and highlights the need to consider multimodal data formats, as numerical and visual misinformation have largely been addressed separately. The study identifies research gaps and opportunities for future research, as well as implications for data communication praxis.