Replication Data for: The life cycle of conspiracy theories: Evidence from a long-term panel survey on conspiracy beliefs in Italy (doi:10.7910/DVN/A8ISOH)

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Part 1: Document Description
Part 2: Study Description
Part 3: Data Files Description
Part 4: Variable Description
Part 5: Other Study-Related Materials
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Document Description

Citation

Title:

Replication Data for: The life cycle of conspiracy theories: Evidence from a long-term panel survey on conspiracy beliefs in Italy

Identification Number:

doi:10.7910/DVN/A8ISOH

Distributor:

Harvard Dataverse

Date of Distribution:

2022-02-02

Version:

1

Bibliographic Citation:

Mancosu, Moreno; Salvatore Vassallo, 2022, "Replication Data for: The life cycle of conspiracy theories: Evidence from a long-term panel survey on conspiracy beliefs in Italy", https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/A8ISOH, Harvard Dataverse, V1, UNF:6:lxzYx3CxLkeN2xiJVMKWPw== [fileUNF]

Study Description

Citation

Title:

Replication Data for: The life cycle of conspiracy theories: Evidence from a long-term panel survey on conspiracy beliefs in Italy

Identification Number:

doi:10.7910/DVN/A8ISOH

Authoring Entity:

Mancosu, Moreno (Università di Torino)

Salvatore Vassallo (Università di Bologna)

Distributor:

Harvard Dataverse

Access Authority:

Mancosu, Moreno

Depositor:

Mancosu, Moreno

Date of Deposit:

2021-12-02

Holdings Information:

https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/A8ISOH

Study Scope

Keywords:

Social Sciences, Social Sciences, Public opinion, Political psychology, Media

Abstract:

Conspiracy theories are gaining increasing interest in academic and public debate. A broad research agenda focused on the socio-political and psychological determinants of conspiracy theory beliefs, on the effect of social media as a new channel of dissemination, on the role played by populist leaders in explaining those theories, and on the impact on social and political outputs. This introduction to the special issue proposes a summary of this growing literature and addresses an aspect that is still under-investigated: the life cycle of conspiracy theories. Previous empirical studies investigated the topic either in a cross-sectional fashion or by employing short-term panels – focusing on how conspiracy theories change over a small period (e.g., before and after an election). Using panel survey data, we take a medium-term approach. We base our investigation on a longitudinal study composed of two survey waves, administered in 2016 and late 2020. Respondents were asked to rate the plausibility of different “classic” conspiracy theories. This allows comparing changes in beliefs in those conspiracy theories over this four-year time frame. Results show that believes in these theories decrease over time. Furthermore, this decline can only be marginally explained by individual socio-demographic characteristics or political orientations. After thoroughly describing these differences over time, we speculate on why this decline occurs, mainly basing our argument on the role of the media landscape in shaping public opinion.

Methodology and Processing

Sources Statement

Data Access

Notes:

CC0 Waiver

Other Study Description Materials

Related Publications

Citation

Identification Number:

10.1017/ipo.2021.57

Bibliographic Citation:

Mancosu M, Vassallo S (2022). The life cycle of conspiracy theories: evidence from a long-term panel survey on conspiracy beliefs in Italy. Italian Political Science Review/Rivista Italiana di Scienza Politica 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1017/ipo.2021.57

File Description--f5595297

File: figure2_data.tab

  • Number of cases: 1432

  • No. of variables per record: 7

  • Type of File: text/tab-separated-values

Notes:

UNF:6:UyZhRL4U+Sg0mFSZiLaYEQ==

File Description--f5595294

File: replication_ds.tab

  • Number of cases: 4364

  • No. of variables per record: 18

  • Type of File: text/tab-separated-values

Notes:

UNF:6:CyA2dx/MlRO7YHHaVMrOZQ==

Variable Description

List of Variables:
  • date - date
  • cosp - cosp
  • comp - comp
  • tot1 - tot1
  • tot2 - tot2
  • p_cosp - p_cosp
  • p_comp - p_comp
  • S21_1 - I partiti sono necessari per difendere gli interessi dei vari gruppi sociali. In
  • S21_2 - Grazie ai partiti la gente pu�� partecipare alla vita politica in Italia. Indich
  • S21_3 - La gente non ha una sufficiente conoscenza o interesse per decidere in prima per
  • S21_4 - Senza partiti non ci pu�� essere democrazia. Indichi il suo grado di accordo uti
  • D38_01_W9 - Gli sbarchi sulla Luna non sono mai avvenuti e le prove sono state create ad art
  • D38_02_W9 - I vaccini logorano il sistema immunitario e lo espongono a diverse malattie.
  • D38_03_W9 - Il metodo Stamina per la cura delle malattie neurodegenerative inventato da Davi
  • D38_04_W9 - Le scie di vapore lasciate dagli aerei sono in realta' agenti chimici spruzzati
  • SEX - Lei e'
  • ANNO - Anno di nascita
  • AMP - Ampiezza centro a sei
  • ZONA - Zona a 5 (FV per regione ordine istat)
  • scolarita - Qual e' il Suo titolo di studio?
  • D4_post - Molta gente quando parla di politica usa i termini 'sinistra' e 'destra'. Qui so
  • D38_post_01 - Gli sbarchi sulla Luna non sono mai avvenuti e le prove sono state create ad art
  • D38_post_02 - I vaccini logorano il sistema immunitario e lo espongono a diverse malattie.&nbs
  • D38_post_03 - Il metodo Stamina per la cura delle malattie neurodegenerative inventato da Davi
  • D38_post_04 - Le scie di vapore lasciate dagli aerei sono in realta' agenti chimici spruzzati

Variables

date

f5595297 Location:

Variable Format: character

Notes: UNF:6:Rx8vvqEnlWUz5dpkQ3VA+Q==

cosp

f5595297 Location:

Summary Statistics: Mean 0.259776536312847; Valid 1432.0; Max. 9.0; StDev 0.6930639335565959; Min. 0.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:r5XvgqviOj6TIRA+ZvxRVA==

comp

f5595297 Location:

Summary Statistics: Mean 1.2995810055865942; StDev 1.9726430439990854; Min. 0.0; Max. 18.0; Valid 1432.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:l1iyGLOEdJevwX5+UMiL3w==

tot1

f5595297 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 2479.0; Mean 932.8310055865871; Valid 1432.0; Min. 99.0; StDev 392.2387615395173;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:nvrd7WFX3/0mrHm/ce2ZGg==

tot2

f5595297 Location:

Summary Statistics: Mean 932.8310055865871; Valid 1432.0; Max. 2479.0; StDev 392.2387615395173; Min. 99.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:nvrd7WFX3/0mrHm/ce2ZGg==

p_cosp

f5595297 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 0.007339449541284404; Mean 2.4259621900534316E-4; Min. 0.0; StDev 6.511318307597564E-4; Valid 1432.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:Yhr8eml27lFMiiby//gKdA==

p_comp

f5595297 Location:

Summary Statistics: Min. 0.0; Mean 0.0012269447201357327; Valid 1432.0; Max. 0.011029411764705883; StDev 0.0015298427701817673

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:YpM7vKU5djagg7cNEwjxUA==

I partiti sono necessari per difendere gli interessi dei vari gruppi sociali. In

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

10.

9

152

8.

7

386

2.

1

144

11.

10

178

7.

6

355

3.

2

199

5.

4

199

9.

8

315

1.

0

327

4.

3

213

6.

5

412

12.

Nonsaprei

169

Summary Statistics: Mean 6.377500819940966; Valid 3049.0; Min. 1.0; Max. 12.0; StDev 3.1677973128092565

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:WVOjGvwEFpzuu6ubrsi8sg==

Grazie ai partiti la gente pu�� partecipare alla vita politica in Italia. Indich

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

11.

10

140

4.

3

222

8.

7

301

3.

2

244

1.

0

452

2.

1

190

9.

8

276

12.

Nonsaprei

149

5.

4

228

6.

5

353

7.

6

377

10.

9

117

Summary Statistics: Max. 12.0; Mean 5.817973105936371; StDev 3.257938773282523; Valid 3049.0; Min. 1.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:oRnp4HzMdjbfhjFSDTikoA==

La gente non ha una sufficiente conoscenza o interesse per decidere in prima per

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

10.

9

250

5.

4

162

12.

Nonsaprei

152

1.

0

239

11.

10

332

7.

6

340

8.

7

409

6.

5

368

9.

8

416

2.

1

106

4.

3

143

3.

2

132

Summary Statistics: Max. 12.0; Valid 3049.0; Mean 7.1528369957363065; Min. 1.0; StDev 3.086290592186406

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:V6mc8l+IYIrg+/elU0HNow==

Senza partiti non ci pu�� essere democrazia. Indichi il suo grado di accordo uti

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

4.

3

180

8.

7

353

9.

8

326

6.

5

407

3.

2

158

2.

1

108

5.

4

181

12.

Nonsaprei

184

7.

6

306

10.

9

201

1.

0

319

11.

10

326

Summary Statistics: StDev 3.2724613316271802; Max. 12.0; Valid 3049.0; Min. 1.0; Mean 6.81534929485077

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:CXY1wrLRZ+pZJtvnlOXsMw==

Gli sbarchi sulla Luna non sono mai avvenuti e le prove sono state create ad art

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

7.

6

188

1.

0

1210

10.

9

80

8.

7

136

4.

3

158

11.

10

81

2.

1

287

5.

4

142

9.

8

107

6.

5

290

12.

Non saprei

141

3.

2

230

Summary Statistics: Valid 3050.0; Min. 1.0; Mean 4.034754098360658; StDev 3.435309297910486; Max. 12.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:C6F/5u/hzn7ZF46Xp6ozWQ==

I vaccini logorano il sistema immunitario e lo espongono a diverse malattie.

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

1.

0

1087

3.

2

246

4.

3

158

9.

8

129

12.

Non saprei

138

10.

9

86

7.

6

223

6.

5

279

5.

4

169

11.

10

107

2.

1

274

8.

7

154

Summary Statistics: Mean 4.318360655737704; Min. 1.0; StDev 3.4820380499168517; Valid 3050.0; Max. 12.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:OgOWqDN+zetO7r/7hXOuRw==

Il metodo Stamina per la cura delle malattie neurodegenerative inventato da Davi

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

9.

8

223

11.

10

202

6.

5

303

10.

9

154

3.

2

188

1.

0

737

12.

Non saprei

213

8.

7

214

7.

6

283

4.

3

170

2.

1

178

5.

4

185

Summary Statistics: Max. 12.0; Valid 3050.0; Mean 5.6059016393442604; Min. 1.0; StDev 3.6974942882055712

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:6aKejpLt97qSRaQl7PNLZw==

Le scie di vapore lasciate dagli aerei sono in realta' agenti chimici spruzzati

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

10.

9

80

3.

2

187

6.

5

216

11.

10

97

9.

8

134

8.

7

132

12.

Non saprei

144

7.

6

172

4.

3

136

2.

1

265

5.

4

168

1.

0

1319

Summary Statistics: Max. 12.0; Min. 1.0; Valid 3050.0; StDev 3.5306934526758553; Mean 3.9839344262295087

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:V1d9+JRrM/m9ZcMGx/BzdQ==

Lei e'

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

1.

Uomo

1645

2.

Donna

1710

Summary Statistics: Valid 3355.0; Max. 2.0; Mean 1.509687034277201; StDev 0.4999806708803996; Min. 1.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:lL9mi8QTwCPaRwoFJ5nMIw==

Anno di nascita

f5595294 Location:

Variable Format: character

Notes: UNF:6:CZnl/62/rF9fGYcVnXTU7w==

Ampiezza centro a sei

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

1.

fino a 5.000 abitanti

328

5.

da 100.000 a 250.000 abitanti

430

4.

da 30.000 a 100.000 abitanti

795

2.

da 5.000 a 10.000 abitant

347

6.

oltre 250.000 abitanti

804

3.

da 10.000 a 30.000 abitanti

651

Summary Statistics: StDev 1.6023759715463435; Valid 3355.0; Mean 3.9132637853949337; Max. 6.0; Min. 1.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:AENhglxaawHVDi77+1sGqQ==

Zona a 5 (FV per regione ordine istat)

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

4.

sud

788

2.

nord-est

644

3.

centro

611

1.

nord-ovest

931

5.

isole

381

Summary Statistics: Valid 3355.0; Min. 1.0; StDev 1.382183880541198; Max. 5.0; Mean 2.715052160953798

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:Uvof+B2wNOEqsfdOYANAKQ==

Qual e' il Suo titolo di studio?

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

11.

dottorato di ricerca

44

6.

universita' in corso / nessuna laurea conseguita

282

4.

diploma di istituto professionale/ formazione professionale (3-5 anni)

258

7.

diploma universitario / laurea breve

88

1.

elementare / privo di titolo

36

8.

laurea triennale di I livello

196

10.

master / scuola di specializzazione post laurea

179

9.

laurea specialistica di II livello o laurea 4-5 anni

652

3.

superiori in corso

24

5.

diploma di maturita' (5 anni)

1272

2.

media inferiore

324

Summary Statistics: StDev 2.3992901523587595; Max. 11.0; Valid 3355.0; Mean 6.010730253353206; Min. 1.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:Q/ye/mTcANLKvfbnrYLHLw==

Molta gente quando parla di politica usa i termini 'sinistra' e 'destra'. Qui so

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

13.

Preferisco non collocarmi

355

11.

10 (Destra)

172

2.

1

113

10.

9

95

9.

8

212

5.

4

337

8.

7

283

12.

Non saprei

143

7.

6

214

1.

0 (Sinistra)

188

6.

5

302

3.

2

224

4.

3

363

Summary Statistics: Valid 3001.0; Mean 6.957014328557152; Min. 1.0; StDev 3.6139292950279587; Max. 13.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:i+py0B7RHXI8V4gdUZ6X1g==

Gli sbarchi sulla Luna non sono mai avvenuti e le prove sono state create ad art

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

1.

0=Per niente plausibile

1730

10.

9

15

2.

1

192

11.

10=Del tutto plausibile

54

9.

8

50

6.

5

191

7.

6

125

8.

7

86

4.

3

130

3.

2

172

5.

4

131

12.

Non saprei

125

Summary Statistics: Min. 1.0; StDev 3.1483856357693107; Mean 3.06831056314562; Max. 12.0; Valid 3001.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:8UxIHSpe9lWHgBvgUjweWA==

I vaccini logorano il sistema immunitario e lo espongono a diverse malattie.&nbs

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

7.

6

174

5.

4

137

9.

8

72

11.

10=Del tutto plausibile

79

4.

3

207

2.

1

236

10.

9

35

6.

5

228

1.

0=Per niente plausibile

1331

8.

7

104

3.

2

230

12.

Non saprei

168

Summary Statistics: Max. 12.0; StDev 3.41336186320058; Valid 3001.0; Min. 1.0; Mean 3.767744085304896

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:mVnAxJfzFoFmlKx7A6cUOg==

Il metodo Stamina per la cura delle malattie neurodegenerative inventato da Davi

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

3.

2

177

12.

Non saprei

404

1.

0=Per niente plausibile

920

4.

3

197

2.

1

152

9.

8

115

10.

9

47

7.

6

224

11.

10=Del tutto plausibile

150

6.

5

272

5.

4

165

8.

7

178

Summary Statistics: Mean 5.329890036654445; Valid 3001.0; Min. 1.0; Max. 12.0; StDev 3.985281623830039

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:I7lqUmnBjQP8eO0gOEsKyg==

Le scie di vapore lasciate dagli aerei sono in realta' agenti chimici spruzzati

f5595294 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

7.

6

118

1.

0=Per niente plausibile

1841

2.

1

166

9.

8

35

3.

2

161

12.

Non saprei

163

4.

3

107

10.

9

20

11.

10=Del tutto plausibile

52

8.

7

79

6.

5

146

5.

4

113

Summary Statistics: Max. 12.0; Min. 1.0; Valid 3001.0; Mean 3.007664111962679; StDev 3.267864936286094

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:qMsPmqIE1/MRniKV9ehjVg==

Other Study-Related Materials

Label:

replication.do

Notes:

application/x-stata-syntax

Other Study-Related Materials

Label:

replication_fig2.do

Notes:

application/x-stata-syntax