Lucie Cejkova

Our ESoEM helps organize findings about BCT into a coherent framework, highlights key social contexts & invites testing in other countries and longitudinal data.
Full preprint here:📄 doi.org/10.21203/rs....

This may be of interest to: @psychunseen.bsky.social @mikeybiddlestone.bsky.social

🧵11/11

What explains the belief in conspiracy theories (BCT)? Together with amazing colleagues @mariher.bsky.social @josefslerka.bsky.social @luccej.bsky.social and P. Tabery, we explore BCT in an innovative way. Our new preprint offers an integrative approach, explaining >50% of variance in BCT. 🧵1/11

My #ica25 dinner tonight was this fantastic ice cream with @abbysimmerman.bsky.social and a glass of red wine with @msaradinlebedikova.bsky.social at the SECAC reception. Ngl, loved both.

Hey #ica25 I know I've plugged this pretty hard all conference, but it would really help us if you could fill in this brief questionnaire which will inform the prioritisation of the platforms, data types, collection mechanisms, etc. that we are going to develop in the @internetobservatory.org.au

A photo of me standing on the stairs of Red Rocks Amphitheater, with light clouds in the sky and view of the green Colorado landscape in the back.

Walking into the stunning Red Rocks Amphitheatre, it really hit me and I shed some happy tears.

What an honor and a privilege to be here at #ICA25, doing what I love, presenting my research, seeing and meeting people I admire, and visiting this place I, as a music lover, absolutely adore.

A photo of a bunny, sitting on the side of a sidewalk, facing flowers and eating grass next to the sidewalk.

I also forgot to ask for the classic photo of me presenting because I was a bit nervous, but here is a picture of a cute bunny I met earlier today at the DU campus.

Hey #ICA25!

I had a great time today at the @icahdq.bsky.social Journalism Studies PhD Colloquium presenting my research on conspiracy thinking, media repertoires, and voting behavior.

Huge thanks to @jonathanhendrickx.bsky.social for being a great discussant!

Men are too emotional to be president.

A jasmine kombucha glass bottle in front of a laptop with data on the screen.

People might think you need computational power to handle data, but in reality, all you need is a silly little drink.

Thanks @j-maria.bsky.social!🍹

Thank you so much!

I just wanted to let you all know that the council has decided on the best mentor and co-author (it’s me, I am the council) because who else prepares such a cool surprise celebration of a new publication?
Thank you so much, @macicak.bsky.social! 🤍

#academicsky #phdsky

What does it all mean?

In my reading of the results, journalists might fill the gap in trust even when the political scene is disappointing. This is especially relevant now when, almost every day, there is a political decision we cannot grasp. Let's make it a call for even better journalism.

🧵6/6

There is also one more interesting finding.

Political interest was associated with higher conspiracy thinking. This further erodes the (in my opinion inaccurate) image of "ignorant conspiracists" since, in our sample, people thinking conspiratively actually *are* interested in politics.

🧵5/6

Visualization of the relationship between conspiracy thinking and trust in journalists for different levels of trust in politicians. While there is not much change for high trust in politicians, for those with low trust in politicians, higher trust in journalists is associated with significantly lower conspiracy thinking.

And here is the fun part!

One of the key findings was the interplay between trust in politicians and journalists. People who trust journalists think less conspiratively, even when they distrust politicians.

🧵4/6

We also looked at trust in journalists—and that, too, was clearly tied to lower conspiracy thinking. Again, the more people trusted journalists, the less they engaged in conspiracy thinking.

🧵3/6

Trust in politicians stood out the most (in a negative direction). In other words, when people trust politicians more, they tend to think less conspiratively.

🧵2/6

The role of the media in conspiracy thinking: trust in journalists is key for the politically distrustful This study explores the associations between the media, media-related political variables, and conspiracy thinking, utilizing representative data from 2,340 Czech adults. Trust in journalists is a ...

🎉 My first publication ever is out!

In this study on conspiracy thinking in the Czech population, @macicak.bsky.social and I focused on how media and political attitudes—especially trust—relate to the inclination to see secret plots behind events.

🧵1/6

doi.org/10.1080/1933...

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

Science should be a safe space for women, girls, and all gender identities. An inclusive space is a safe space.

And finally, a little personal goodbye from Old Main, my favorite companion on the walks to the grad office – along with squirrels and bunnies!

So here is my shoutout to @mattjord.bsky.social, @christopherali.bsky.social, @saschameinrath.bsky.social, @sydneyforde.bsky.social, @abbysimmerman.bsky.social, Homero Gil de Zúñiga, Martin Marinos, and many more from the College of Communications and grad community. I miss you already!

The main lesson I learned is that no matter where I am or what happens, it is the people around me who make me happy. I was lucky to be part of a wonderful community of inspiring scholars who are also lovely people.

And that’s a wrap!

My Fulbright stay at @bellisariograded.bsky.social is officially over. Despite the broligarchic whirlwind around, I loved every day of it, and it profoundly helped me to organize my thoughts and navigate where I want to go next.

Thank you!

Thank you so much for this! I am doing my PhD on conspiracy thinking among news audiences, and I'd love to join the network of people researching conspiracy theories. So, if you could add me, I would greatly appreciate it!

I feel seen

Lecture room with a large screen with a dog from Oz.

My Fulbright experience with @bellisariograded.bsky.social ends in two weeks, but I still enjoy every second here.

For example, this morning, I attended this great and mindblowing public lecture by @saschameinrath.bsky.social, which was packed with both information & fun film references.

My morning gaming session was on point today.
(Although whether robots are the future is up for discussion.)

I’m gonna counter-conspire and spread that this “blue objects don’t burn” conspiracy is just yet another way to make people pay for the blue tick.

Sharing this resource that explores six common tricks used by climate dis-informers and shares tools to help journalists to tackle (and avoid getting spun by) misinformation. coveringclimatenow.org/resource/don...