The Trajectory of Truth: A Longitudinal Study of the Illusory Truth Effect
Open Access
- 8 June 2021
- journal article
- Published by Ubiquity Press, Ltd. in Journal of Cognition
- Vol. 4 (1)
- https://doi.org/10.5334/joc.161
Abstract
Repeated statements are rated as subjectively truer than comparable new statements, even though repetition alone provides no new, probative information (the illusory truth effect). Contrary to some theoretical predictions, the illusory truth effect seems to be similar in magnitude for repetitions occurring after minutes or weeks. This Registered Report describes a longitudinal investigation of the illusory truth effect (n = 608, n = 567 analysed) in which we systematically manipulated intersession interval (immediately, one day, one week, and one month) in order to test whether the illusory truth effect is immune to time. Both our hypotheses were supported: We observed an illusory truth effect at all four intervals (overall effect: χ2(1) = 169.91; Mrepeated = 4.52, Mnew = 4.14; H1), with the effect diminishing as delay increased (H2). False information repeated over short timescales might have a greater effect on truth judgements than repetitions over longer timescales. Researchers should consider the implications of the choice of intersession interval when designing future illusory truth effect research.This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- Random effects structure for confirmatory hypothesis testing: Keep it maximalJournal of Memory and Language, 2013
- Random effects structure for testing interactions in linear mixed-effects modelsFrontiers in Psychology, 2013
- Mixed-effects modeling with crossed random effects for subjects and itemsJournal of Memory and Language, 2008
- Repetition‐Induced Belief in the Elderly: Rehabilitating Age‐Related Memory DeficitsJournal of Consumer Research, 1998
- Stimulus recognition and the mere exposure effect.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1992
- Repetition and the ring of truth: Biasing comments.Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 1991
- Unbelieving the unbelievable: Some problems in the rejection of false information.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1990
- The generality of the relation between familiarity and judged validityJournal of Behavioral Decision Making, 1989
- External Validity of Laboratory Experiments: The Frequency-Validity RelationshipThe American Journal of Psychology, 1984
- Repetition and Rated Truth Value of StatementsThe American Journal of Psychology, 1982