Replication Data for: Does the Style of Misinformation Condition its Effects? An Experiment in Brazil

This paper examines how the style of political misinformation shapes beliefs and outgroup attitudes. A survey-experiment conducted in Brazil exposes Lula supporters, Lula opponents and non-partisans to either "journalistic" or "crude" misinformation about President Lula, or to a control condition. Results suggest that journalistic misinformation has a comparatively stronger effect on beliefs, except among Lula opponents, for whom crude misinformation is as persuasive as journalistic one. Exposure to either type of misinformation does not however consistently accentuate outgroup polarization. Further examination suggests that crude misinformation nonetheless generates far more engagement than journalistic one. These findings highlight the importance of considering the style in which misinformed claims appear, and underscore what the use of crude misinformation might be. Cruder content generates more attention than other forms of content, and as such may be valued by political actors.