Thesis Research Focus Issues

for the information content to be distorted in terms of quantity rather than quality. Hyperbole can occur as a result of changing exaggerated information (for example when one black person is hyperbolized into four black people (Allport and Postman, 1947); the idea that "a black person was present" is thus emphasized (Turner and Killian, 1972).

When studying the transmission of information according to the law of detail reduction, Shibutani (1966) emphasized that the public tends to shorten or omit information to make it easier to understand and grasp. Thus, the law of detail reduction is used to indicate the loss of details and the gradual reduction in length each time the information is transmitted to make it easier to grasp, especially when the information needs to be transmitted quickly. Kirkpatrick (1932) emphasized that the extraction of details is a process of "condensation". For example, there were 20 detailed statements initially described, which were reduced to 15 and finally to only 5 statements. Psychologists Artlett (1932) and Kirkpatrick (1932) found that the human memory is not as reliable as hoped because it does not provide a fixed image like a photographic image and instead changes as it processes life problems. Today, the most vivid evidence for this can be found in extensive laboratory studies of the accuracy of eyewitness testimony in crime (Wells 3c Loftus, 1984). Across hundreds of studies conducted by psychologists in recent decades, consistent results have revealed that eyewitnesses cannot be perfect in their memories and that systematic factors can influence their recall. collect information

The law of assimilation refers to the formation of content through the process of subtraction, addition, and hyperbole to better fit individual perception. Assimilation can be a process-reducing association, such as when details are subtracted, added, or hyperbole to make a message more coherent and plausible about a certain topic (e.g., an ambulance becomes a Red Cross station to fit the topic of war, Kirkpatrick, 1932). Assimilation can also be a process of expressing (defensive or motivational) associations, such as when changes are made to a message for the benefit of others.

self-interest (e.g., a police group favoring police officers on a certain issue) and prejudice (e.g., hostile behavior attributed to ethnic minorities).

It can be seen that assimilation is often considered a more comprehensive and higher level model of content change leading to news. The public tends to provide appropriate evidence to exaggerate the assimilation in the news situation (Peterson and Gist, 1951; uckner, 1965; Shibutani, 1966; RH Turner and Killian, 1972; Rosnow, 1991). Therefore, the use of the assimilation rule often involves incorporating certain information changes to make the news more meaningful to the transmitter. The changed message structure becomes more coherent and consistent with the expectations and beliefs of the participants involved in the transmission process.

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In addition, the law of embellishment is often implemented to supplement the content of the news in a new material form by adding information details. To date, many researchers have used phrases according to the law of embellishment such as "rapid increase" (Rosnow, 1991), "creation and further explanation" (Allport and Postman, 1947), "complexity" (Peterson and Gist, 1951), "embroidering" (Allport and Postman, 1947), and "fabrication" (Sinha, 1952). Researchers have found that new topics are often added to without losing any details. However, adding details is often done to withdraw unnecessary information. In particular, most field studies show that news topics are more likely to be enriched by adding information than by withdrawing details (Peterson and Gist, 1951; Schachter and Urdick, 1955). Another typical example is the study by Peterson and Gist (1951) which also shows that news topics are more complicated by additional speculations so that the central topic is not distorted. More specifically, news is more ambiguous, detailed, and variations are more likely to arise than withdrawals.

From the above analysis, it can be seen that the examination of information trends according to the rules of detail extraction, emphasis (hyperbole), assimilation, and embellishment is meaningful when applied to "natural" situations in real cases, not

must be in an experimental situation. Thus, it can be seen that studies on the mechanism of information transmission have shown the importance of four rules in the process of information transmission and dissemination. The rule of exaggeration emphasizes the details in the content of information. The rule of shortening details is related to the tendency to eliminate or ignore some details, even the details necessary to understand the meaning of the information to be transmitted. The rule of assimilation is implemented to make the information more coherent and specific about the topic. Finally, the rule of adding details is supplementing the content of the information in the form of new material or adding information details. Each rule shows its strengths in transmitting the content of information from one individual or group to another. The rules in the mechanism of information transmission depend on the characteristics of each meaning that the individual or group intends to convey when participating in the process of information transmission. Thereby, it shows the key issues that determine the general operating mechanism of information technology.

1.4. Thesis focused research issues

The above studies have mentioned quite a variety of conditions for the emergence of fake news, channels of diffusion as well as the mechanism of fake news operation in general. Basically, it can be affirmed that the research works on the environment for the emergence, the mechanism of formation and diffusion of fake news are quite comprehensive and diverse, especially studies abroad. However, in our country, research works on fake news are still very limited in quantity as well as in approaches. Some recent research works have only stopped at approaching the press and on the basis of communication to measure and warn of the risks of fake news in finance and trade, but there are no research works related to the mechanism of formation and diffusion of fake news. In particular, direct scientific research on fake news in semi-public spaces still has many open issues that have not received research attention. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research to understand the formation, dissemination and impact of fake news in the specific context of our country. Based on the theoretical and empirical achievements of previous research works, the topic focuses on clarifying the characteristics and mechanisms of fake news formation and dissemination in semi-public spaces such as coffee shops in Hanoi, and at the same time analyzing the public's reactions when they receive and participate in transmitting fake news.

First, the thesis focuses on analyzing the characteristics of news expressed through specific aspects such as the scope of the issue, the verifiability of news, the stability of news and the channel of news dissemination. Therefore, the study also emphasizes the status of receiving and discussing news content, and runs correlations with demographic characteristics to see the differences in accessing information topics related to news.

Next, the study clarifies the mechanism of news formation in semi-public space by two common methods through a typical news case study. More specifically, the news formation process is shown as (1) information from the unreal is believed by the public to be real and sometimes changes the listener's behavior leading to the news becoming real; (2) information is transferred from one form to another - the transformation compared to the original information. It clarifies how the news generation bases in the spatial and temporal context at the time of the study affect the news formation process.

Third, the author focuses on the mechanism of spreading news in semi-public spaces and compares this process in other spaces. More specifically, the author tries to focus on examining the level of individuals and groups participating in semi-public spaces, how the process of receiving and distorting affects the transmission of news. To do this, in addition to a quantitative survey of the way news is transmitted, the author will conduct a case study of typical news, group discussions and in-depth interviews to learn about some transmission routes of a specific news in semi-public spaces. For example, what is the news about? Who does the respondent receive it from? Where? When does it come? Space, reception channel? Is it told to others? How is it told? ... to be able to clarify how the news is transmitted. From there, consider how the process of information transmission in semi-public spaces takes place and how it differs from public and private spaces.

Fourth, the transformation between real news, fake news, and public opinion will help clarify the similarities and differences between the phenomena expressed through the analysis of typical fake news. At the same time, the study also focuses on analyzing the dynamics

the basis and purpose of each specific phenomenon. For example, before each information is transmitted and received, how can we distinguish whether it is real news, fake news, or public opinion? Is the relationship between news and public opinion both resonant and deeply exclusive?

Fifth, it is necessary to clarify individual and group reactions in receiving news to have effective handling. The thesis uses quantitative data to generalize information and qualitative analysis through in-depth interviews to emphasize the results obtained. Specifically, the research results will try to clarify the correlation between how news affects trust in social life as well as the impact on individual and group behavior of transmitting information. Thereby, further affirming the negative impact of news on individual psychology and leading to crowd behavior. When receiving too much news, individuals lose trust in society and easily transmit and disseminate news by providing false information. Therefore, handling news according to specific groups is the best way to limit the continuation of news.

In addition, an indispensable part of the study is to analyze the factors affecting the mechanism of news formation and dissemination. This is not only reflected through personal characteristics but also influenced by the environment of receiving and discussing news in semi-public spaces. In addition, the social environment and media also play a very important role in the process of news formation and dissemination.

Finally, the thesis would like to mention some recommendations to limit fake news in the current information age. In addition to recommendations on improving the system of policies and laws; the system of media; individuals, groups... the author also wants to emphasize the mechanism of coordination and reasonable and effective communication between management agencies and media against fake news. In particular, the study also focuses on some positive aspects in improving the thinking capacity of individuals and organizations to be able to analyze and process fake news effectively.

Summary

In Chapter 1, we have reviewed domestic and foreign research works related to fake news, conditions for fake news generation, fake news dissemination channels and fake news operation mechanisms. Studies by psychologists, media and sociologists have shown us that fake news is a very common and complex phenomenon in social life. The characteristics and process of forming and spreading fake news depend on the conditions for generating and the fake news dissemination channels. At the same time, the participation of groups of individuals in the fake news generation process will be affected by the information content, emotional factors and specific spatial context. However, studies concluding that fake news and the spread of fake news mainly take place in the context of Western countries. Currently, research works on fake news in the socio-economic context in Vietnam are still relatively limited. Therefore, we inherit theoretical and practical knowledge from previous research works to study the characteristics as well as the process of forming and spreading news taking place in the context of Vietnamese society, where there are many different economic and social characteristics compared to Western countries. In order to verify theories related to news in a specific social context.

CHAPTER 2. THEORETICAL BASIS AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1. Tool concepts

2.1.1. Concept of rumor

News is a form of public communication, often involving aspects related to unverified information, reflecting the way people speculate or doubt about the social situation. This is the way the whole society answers questions arising from social changes... so up to now, many researchers have tried to define news from different perspectives.

According to Allport and Postman (1947), a rumor is a specific or current hypothesis that serves as an explanation for a certain belief. This hypothesis is spread from person to person, mainly through word of mouth, without accompanying evidence.

Rumors are an explanation for an event that is happening at the time of its transmission, which is not confirmed (Peterson, Gist, 1951). According to Nwokocha et al. (1975), the nature of rumors lies in their uncertainty and this nature makes rumors spread more widely.

According to Noymer (2001), although the spread of news is somewhat technological, the essence of news lies in direct communication between individuals.

According to the psychological point of view, belief is a product of problem solving when people try to understand the problems occurring in their environment, and at the same time, to give reasons why there is belief in the majority (Oyewo, 2009).

Fake news, unlike official government and media information, is essentially unverified by an authority, not that it can be false (DiFonzo and Bordia 2000, 2007; Fine and Ellis 2010). Therefore, when studying fake news, it is necessary to understand the nature of fake news in order to focus on the characteristics of fake news that take place in semi-public spaces. Specifically, the nature of fake news needs to be expressed through two basic contents: the communication process between individuals and the authenticity of fake news. The authenticity of fake news does not lie in whether the fake news is true or false, but whether the fake news has been verified by an authority. This shows the importance of the authority before negative fake news.

In addition, in the study of news, it is necessary to show aspects such as news objects, news purposes (news often express personal purposes and are distorted by the subjectivity of the messenger), level, type, social situation (typical news cases), news form (expressed through transmission channels such as word of mouth between individuals or through unofficial sites and possibly through mass media channels to realize news) and news content. More specifically, in this study, news characteristics will be limited to general aspects such as news issue scope, news verifiability, news stability and news dissemination channels:

+ Scope of news issues: News often refers to both public and private issues, so sometimes it is impossible to determine whether there is a problem or not. For example, news about natural phenomena, space... and the source is often not easy to determine.

Verifiability of news: News is often difficult to verify on the issue in question because the source of information may not be highly reliable and authentic.

Stability of messages: Messages are often more sensitive because they provide clear information about the issue being addressed. Therefore, messages can be easily changed because of the low level of mental involvement through the messenger acting almost only as a “transmitter and receiver”.

Channels for spreading news: If in the past, news was mainly disseminated through interpersonal communication channels, today there has been a change with the support of internet-connected communication channels.

Thus, in this study, news is understood as information that has not been verified or meets the elements of a complete news according to the requirements of journalism. In particular, in the analysis of news characteristics, the author will focus on clarifying the aspects of the scope of the issue, the verifiability of news, the stability of news and the channel of news dissemination.

2.1.2. Mechanism of formation – spreading rumors

The concept of formation is often used to refer to a process in which there is the appearance, development-transformation and end of things and events. Within the scope of the topic

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