12 - Numeracy

 

COVID-19 and Numeracy:

These days it's hard not to relate any news to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic. One thing I know many people around the world are struggling with is trying to decipher the fake updates from the real dealing with the virus. It seems like everyone is trying to find someone or something to blame for instances occurring during the pandemic. The Guardian recently released an article titled "Poor Numerical Literacy Linked to Greater Susceptibility to Covid-19 Fake News" This article covers exactly what the title entails, surveys were done across five different countries to support the data. Research was led by a group at Cambridge University who believe improving people's analytical skills would change the way many are viewing fake news surrounding Covid-19. "The study found the most consistent predictor of decreased susceptibility to misinformation about Covid-19 was numerical literacy - the ability to digest and apply quantitative information broadly."  The five countries that participated in this study were the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, and Mexico. The participants were presented with nine statements pertaining to Covid-19 for example people suffering from diabetes may be at a higher risk than others. They were also asked other questions that pertained to their personal perception of health guidelines if they were complying or if a vaccine was created would they be open to vaccination. Some of the scientist involved on the research believe that perceptions of Covid-19 could heavily rely on political views. 

The Australian Journal of Pharmacy also covered the study done through the University of Cambridge. They took more of a statistical approach to the research that was testing the participants through numeracy questions. As I mentioned above the were given nine statements where six were said they represented common examples of health related misinformation. They listed examples such as "5G networks may be making us more susceptible to the coronavirus, gargling salt water or lemon juice reduces the risk of infection from coronavirus, the virus was bioengineered in a Wuhan laboratory, and Covid-19 is part of a plot to enforce global vaccination." 

After results came in from the survey they found that in all countries out of the statements listed above that the claim of coronavirus being created in a lab in Wuhan was the most reliable. Around 16% of those surveyed found the 5G conspiracy believable. When a different study was done in May that found over one quarter of 'informational videos' on the virus contained misinformation and have since been addressed by the World Health Organization. After reading multiple articles on the issue of believing misinformation in direct correlation with numeracy I believe we should start educating people of all ages on the issue.