Failure to accept retractions: A contribution to the continued influence effect

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Memory Studies
• Information Processing

Background:

• Previous research demonstrates the continued influence effect, where retracted information is still used.
• This effect occurs even when corrections are explicit, not just implicit.
• The underlying reasons for this persistence are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether the continued influence effect is partly due to readers' unwillingness to accept retractions.
• To examine individual differences in accepting corrected information.
• To explore the role of belief in retractions on information use.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a continued influence effect paradigm across three experiments.
• Included probes to assess participants' belief in explicit retractions.
• Manipulated the plausibility of retractions and included additional materials to ensure generalizability.

Main Results:

• Most participants did not believe the explicit retractions.
• Individuals who accepted the retraction showed reduced use of incorrect information.
• Those who rejected the retraction performed similarly to a control group without corrections.
• Even with more plausible retractions, the pattern persisted.

Conclusions:

• A significant portion of the continued influence effect may stem from a failure to accept retractions.
• Individual differences in belief acceptance play a crucial role.
• The findings suggest cognitive resistance to updating beliefs, even without external motivation.