Tools- of Changes

Misinformation About Climate Change Becomes More Believable When Repeated

Even one repetition of misinformation about climate change makes it seem truer.

This research looked at the relative strength of two influences on climate beliefs.

1. Motivated Reasoning: Information confirming one's current beliefs tends to be viewed as being true.
2. Illusory Truth Effect: Information that is repeated tends to become more believable.

Even one repetition of a false claim about climate change is sufficient to make it seem a bit truer later on. It is therefore important not to expose people to false information in the interest of 'balanced reporting'" about climate change

The findings are based on two online experiments, one with 52 people and the other with 120.