Memory failure predicts belief regression after the correction of misinformation

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Information Science

Background:

• Beliefs are initially updated effectively after misinformation correction.
• However, belief changes are often not sustained, leading to belief regression.
• The role of memory in belief regression requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between memory for corrections and belief regression.
• To determine if corrected misinformation experiences more belief regression than affirmed facts.
• To explore the impact of memory on the persistence of corrected beliefs.

Main Methods:

• 612 participants rated the veracity of misinformation and factual items.
• Participants were randomly assigned to a correction or control condition.
• Beliefs and memory for veracity were assessed immediately and one month later.

Main Results:

• Belief and memory were highly associated (ρ = 0.51 immediately, ρ = 0.82 after one month).
• Memory explained 66% of the variance in belief regression.
• Forgetting quadrupled over one month, with 57% misremembering misinformation as true.

Conclusions:

• Memory plays a fundamental role in belief regression.
• Belief regression is more pronounced for misinformation than facts.
• Repeated corrections may be an effective strategy to counteract belief regression.