Characterizing how Misinformation Influences Decision-making: choice heuristics and neural correlates

• Primary Supervisor: Dr Lucie Charles
• Co-Supervisor(s): Dr Rani Moran
• Funding: China Scholarship Council (CSC)
• Deadline: 29th January 2025

Project Overview

The question of fake news and choice manipulation has emerged as a topical issue in recent years, following reports of inappropriate political influence and the rise of conspiracy theories through social media. An important component of this issue is how people use the degree of trustworthiness or reliability of the information presented to them to make decisions. Importantly, despite clear mathematical models of how reliability of information should inform choice (Tenenbaum et al., 2006) and the wide use of reliability indicators to inform consumer behaviour (Hoffart et al., 2019), there remains a lack of understanding on how humans use explicit cues about reliability of information to make choices. 

This project will capitalize on ongoing research by Dr Charles on how people use explicit indicators of information reliability (Jiwa et al., n.d.) and introspect being influenced in their decisions (Kummen et al., 2023). It will use computational models to pinpoint how people encode and combine the reliability of the information they receive, using Bayesian inference as a benchmark of optimality. Electro-encephalography (EEG) will be used to uncover the neural markers of information reliability encoding. Finally, it will explore how implicit beliefs about trustworthiness can influence decision making, probing with ecologically valid tasks, such as social media thread, how misinformation influences behaviour. 

This PhD studentship will produce fundamental and applied research on cognitive neuroscience, neuroeconomics, behaviour change and social psychology.  

Research Environment

Dr Charles' lab studies the cognitive processes allowing humans to introspect and evaluate their own thoughts and action. Research in the lab uses neuroimaging (fRMI& EEG), online and lab-based behavioural studies to understand the cognitive processes underlying decision-making and metacognition, with a particular focus on confidence, freedom of choice and action awareness.

Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.

Keywords: Decision-making, Bayesian inference, Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuroeconomics, Metacognition, EEG, Cognitive Psychology 

Entry Requirements

We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree and a Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as Psychology, Cognitive Sciences and Neuroscience. Candidates with a degree in Biology, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Sciences or Engineering are also encouraged to apply. A masters degree is desirable, but not essential.

Prior experience with behavioural and EEG data collection, computational modelling, data analysis, statistics, coding  and academic writing are desirable.

You must meet the IELTS requirements for your course and upload evidence before CSC’s application deadline, ideally by 1st March 2025. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible, where your IELTS test must still be valid when you enrol for the programme.

Please find further details on our English Language requirements page.

How to Apply

Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 29th January 2025 for consideration. Please identify yourself as a ‘CSC Scholar’ in the funding section of the application.

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

• Your CV
• Personal Statement
• Evidence of English Language e.g.) IELTS Certificate
• Copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates
• References

Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.

Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr Lucie Charles AT l.charles@qmul.ac.uk Admissions-related queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your QMUL application, then you will be issued an QMUL Offer Letter, conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements.

Once applicants have obtained their QMUL Offer Letter, they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship with the support of the supervisor.

For further information, please go to the QMUL China Scholarship Council webpage.

Apply Online

Funding & Eligibility

Queen Mary University of London has partnered with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to offer a joint scholarship programme to enable Chinese students to study for a PhD programme at Queen Mary.  Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.

Applicants must:

·      Be applying for CSC funding. 

·      Be a citizen and permanent resident of the People’s Republic of China and hold a Chinese passport.

·      Satisfy all eligibility criteria set out by the CSC and must refer to the CSC website for full details.

·      Apply to QMUL by 29^th January 2025. Late applications will not be considered. 

·      Submit ALL required documentation, including evidence of their English Language ability ahead of the CSC application deadline. 

CSC application rules differ slightly for domestic applicants (students applying from China) and overseas applicants (students applying from overseas). Therefore, ALL applicants are advised to see the CSC website for full details on eligibility and conditions on the scholarship.