“We don’t need no thought control”: dealing with faculty members spreading conspiracy theories - Higher Education

Recent studies reveal that a significant proportion of the population in various countries endorses at least some form of conspiracy theory (CT). Notably, there have been instances of faculty members spreading CTs, despite their pedagogical obligations to foster academic and scientific thinking. While the existing literature has predominantly focused on student populations, an examination of less-studied cohorts such as faculty members seems necessary. This theoretical article delves into the prevalence, underlying factors, and ramifications of CTs within the context of higher education. The present analytic article distinguishes CTs from scientific theories, elucidates the detrimental consequences for individuals and the broader society engendered by the uncritical propagation of CTs, and scrutinizes the responsibilities of students and faculty in mitigating the dissemination of misinformation. Moreover, the article posits potential solutions from both student and faculty standpoints to counteract the proliferation of CTs in higher education.