Study: Facts Fail To Change Minds

A Washington State University study found that presenting people with facts after they’ve engaged with “fake news” won’t undo the damage. “People can learn misconceptions pretty easily, and there’s no shortage of that online,” lead author Robert Danielson said. Study participants who learned fake information about water were not swayed when presented with real facts. However, participants who read text that addressed the fake news arguments were more likely to show improvement. This means educators could consider addressing common misconceptions, instead of trying to correct misinformation after students have already learned it. (Study Finds)