Work

Pictures are not always worth a thousand words: Nonprobative pictures did not increase the effectiveness of misinformation corrections.

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Much research has focused on the language used for debunking false beliefs: communications should lead with facts, label misinformation as false, and reinforce true information. Pictures are used in debunking messages, but it remains unclear whether they matter, and what content they should depict. Six experiments explored these issues, focusing on correcting science misconceptions. There were no effects of non-probative pictures on correcting misinformation beyond the effects of corrective text alone. This was true regardless of whether the image depicted the misconception (Exps. 1, 3-6) or the correct referent (Exps. 2, 3, 5, 6), whether a symbol reinforcing truth or falseness (red X or green checkmark) accompanied the image (Exps. 1-6), whether belief was assessed immediately or after a delay (Exps. 4-6), and in an exploratory last experiment, whether belief in real-world health issues was targeted. Simple messages yielded robust correction, but non-probative pictorial aids did not increase their potency.

Source: Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition

DOI: 10.1037/mac0000214

Authors: Peter S. Whitehead, Charles P. Davis, Joyce S. Park, Elizabeth J. Marsh

Institution: Duke University

Language: English

Topic: Misinformation and Its Impacts

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000

Funder: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention