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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime

An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime

Published on: May 3, 2016

False information and decision-making in preschoolers.

Nancy Garon¹, Emily E Stubbert¹, Lauren M West¹

¹Department of Psychology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada.

Child Neuropsychology : a Journal on Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence

|July 16, 2026

Summary

Preschoolers exposed to false information made more poor choices during a game. However, early knowledge of the game protected children from misinformation effects, showing individual differences in decision-making resilience.

Keywords:

Decision-making awareness false information individual differences preschoolers

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Development
Developmental Psychology
Behavioral Economics

Background:

Understanding how children process and are affected by misinformation is crucial for cognitive development research.
Preschoolers' decision-making abilities are still developing, making them potentially vulnerable to false information.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of false information on decision-making in preschoolers.
To examine factors moderating the effects of misinformation, such as prior knowledge and decision-making strategies.

Main Methods:

A child-adapted Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was administered to 113 preschoolers (mean age 48 months).
Participants received false information at various points during the task.
Children were categorized into decision-making groups based on early game strategies.

Main Results:

False information significantly increased disadvantageous choices in preschoolers.
Early explicit knowledge of the game demonstrated a protective effect against misinformation.
While decision-making groups and initial awareness influenced responses, the effect of false information was not persistent, with most children reverting to their initial strategies.

Conclusions:

Preschoolers' decision-making is robustly affected by false information, leading to poorer choices.
Initial knowledge and individual decision-making strategies play a key role in moderating susceptibility to misinformation.
Significant individual variability exists in children's responses to false information, highlighting the importance of early awareness and cognitive strategies.