Cited by 58Misinformation and Its ImpactsDeception detection and forensic psychologyCommunication and COVID-19 Impact

Pictures and repeated exposure increase perceived accuracy of news headlines

Smelter, Thomas J., Calvillo, Dustin P.·2020·Applied Cognitive Psychology

Abstract

Summary: Fake news, deliberately inaccurate and often biased information that is presented as accurate reporting, is perceived as a serious threat. Recent research on fake news has documented a high general susceptibility to the phenomenon and has focused on investigating potential explanatory factors. The present study examined how features of news headlines affected their perceived accuracy. Across four experiments (total N = 659), we examined the effects of pictures, perceptual clarity, and repeated exposure on the perceived accuracy of news headlines. In all experiments, participants received a set of true and false news headlines and rated their accuracy. The presence of pictures and repeated exposure increased perceived accuracy, whereas manipulations of perceptual clarity did not show the predicted effects. The effects of pictures and repeated exposure were similar for true and false headlines. These results demonstrate that accompanying pictures and repeated exposure can affect evaluations of truth of news headlines.

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Crossref · 10.1002/acp.3684

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Authors
Smelter, T. J., & Calvillo, D. P.
Affiliations
California State University, San Marcos (US)
Corresponding author
Calvillo, Dustin P.
Venue
Applied Cognitive Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2020-05-10
Volume
34
Issue
5
Pages
1061-1071
ISSN
  • 0888-4080 (ISSN-L)
  • 1099-0720
OpenAlex
W3022571189
Cited by
58
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6
FWCI
12.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Applied Cognitive Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Deception detection and forensic psychology
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
Keywords
fake news, news headlines, perceived accuracy, images, repeated exposure, misinformation susceptibility, truth evaluation

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