Cognitive processes underlying the repetition-based truth effect: A diffusion model study

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Decision Science

Background:

• The illusory truth effect describes the tendency to believe repeated information as true.
• This effect is often linked to increased processing fluency (perceptual and conceptual).
• The impact of retention intervals on the cognitive mechanisms of this effect is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cognitive mechanisms underlying the illusory truth effect.
• To examine how retention intervals influence these mechanisms.
• To differentiate the roles of perceptual and conceptual fluency in the truth effect.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments were conducted using diffusion modeling to analyze response times and decision processes.
• Experiment 1 manipulated statement repetition and retention interval (10 min vs. 1 week).
• Experiment 2 used one-word answers to questions, separating reading and response times.

Main Results:

• Repetition enhanced drift rate, reduced nondecision time, and increased truth bias, indicating contributions from both conceptual and perceptual fluency.
• These repetition effects diminished significantly with longer retention intervals.
• Repetition facilitated encoding (reduced reading times) and maintained response bias, with evidence suggesting information accumulation begins during question reading.

Conclusions:

• The illusory truth effect arises from a combination of perceptual facilitation, response bias, and faster information accumulation.
• These contributing factors operate at different stages of the decision-making process.
• Retention intervals modulate the strength and manifestation of these cognitive mechanisms.