“What about building 7?” A social psychological study of online discussion of 9/11 conspiracy theories

This study examines online discussions of 9/11 conspiracy theories to understand the relative importance of promoting alternative explanations versus rejecting conventional explanations. Analyzing conspiracist and conventionalist comments on news websites, the researchers found that conspiracists were more likely to refute opposing interpretations and less likely to support their own, while conventionalists exhibited the opposite pattern. However, conspiracists were more likely to offer explanations explicitly. Conspiracists also displayed more mistrust and made more positive references to other conspiracy theories. The study suggests that the conspiracist worldview prioritizes rejecting official narratives over presenting specific alternative accounts.

Michael J. Wood, Karen M. Douglas