Evaluating the Efficacy of Detection Instructions on Additive and Contradictory Misinformation in Older and Younger Adults Using Eyewitnessed Visual Scenes

BACKGROUND: Empirical evidence identifies two qualitatively distinct forms of misinformation, differentiated by their relation to initial event details. Contradictory misinformation refers to suggested details that directly contrast specific details that were presented within the witnessed event. Additive misinformation refers to suggested details that supplement a witnessed event. The current study evaluated whether misinformation is reduced following a strong warning to detect misinformation compared to no warning and whether misinformation reductions depend upon misinformation type. Further, age-related detection effects were evaluated by comparing older and younger adults. METHOD: Older and younger adults viewed videos depicting everyday household scenes and were randomly assigned to receive either a detection warning or no warning. Following video exposure, participants completed memory tests assessing their recall and recognition of details from the original events. RESULTS: Older adults were more suggestible on a source-recognition test. Importantly, when older adults were given a warning to detect misinformation, they were able to reduce misinformation to the same low level as younger adults without instruction. Younger adults with detection instructions improved in correct recall for objects touched in the original event compared to younger adults without instructions as well as older adults with and without instructions. CONCLUSION: Misinformation detection instructions are effective at reducing misinformation for additive and contradictory types, and particularly so for older adults.