Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein

[scion]

Countering Truth Decay

A RAND Initiative to Restore the Role of Facts and Analysis in Public Life

https://www.rand.org/research/projects/truth-decay.html

What Is Truth Decay?
RAND defines “Truth Decay” as the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life. This phenomenon has taken hold over the last two decades, eroding civil discourse, causing political paralysis, and leading to public uncertainty and disengagement.

Truth Decay: An Initial Exploration of the Diminishing Role of Facts and Analysis in American Public Life 2018

Truth Decay is characterized by four trends:

1. increasing disagreement about facts
2. a blurring of the line between opinion and fact
3. the increasing relative volume and resulting influence of opinion over fact
4. declining trust in formerly respected sources of facts

Most of these trends are not unprecedented in U.S. history. But today's level of disagreement over objective facts appears to be a new phenomenon. So how did we get here?

Read more https://www.rand.org/research/projects/truth-decay/about-truth-decay.html

At RAND, we have never shied away from a problem because it is too difficult or too complex. We've made countering Truth Decay one of our highest priorities because it is both, and because it threatens the very foundations of our democracy.


Michael D. Rich
President and Chief Executive Officer, RAND Corporation
Source: RAND Review

https://www.rand.org/research/projects/truth-decay.html