In today’s political landscape, misperceptions concerning political matters are pervasive. If citizens base their political decisions on such misperceptions, their behaviour may not align with what it would be if they had accurate knowledge. With the rise of right-wing populist parties, the issue of immigration is especially vulnerable to misinformation, potentially resulting in the average citizen misperceiving the status quo of immigration policies. But how strong are these misperceptions, and can they be countered with correct information? This research project first explores how the extent of misperceptions varies across different issues of immigration and integration policies. Secondly, the project investigates the effect of accurate information on immigration policies, considering different agents of information and focusing on migrant heterogeneity. More specifically, the project asks if accurate information can lead to a change in inclusive attitudes and behaviours and affect political behaviour more broadly. This project holds implications for the academic literature and policymakers alike.
