Using two-sided messages to facilitate misinformation correction for strongly held beliefs

Abstract

In the U.S. and around the world, the dissemination of misinformation has become a widespread issue, and efforts to correct it have faced significant challenges. Prior research on influencing strong attitudes has shown that using two-sided (vs. one-sided) messages can be more effective in producing attitude change. Although there is a long history of research examining two-sided persuasive messages, this has never been examined in the context of misinformation correction. Rather, misinformation correction messages are invariably one-sided. Across two studies (N = 869), we extend the outcome observed in the persuasion domain to the context of debunking misinformation. Study 1, focused on a widespread but incorrect political belief regarding the 2020 U.S. election, and a preregistered Study 2, examined the correction of misinformation regarding a health belief (i.e., FDA withholding cancer treatment). Both studies demonstrated that a two-sided (vs. one-sided) correction message became more effective as the strength of individuals' belief in the misinformation increased. People's openness to the two-sided correction message was driven by their enhanced appreciation of the source acknowledging their view and the source's credibility. This openness, in turn, was associated with more favorable beliefs in the correct information. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the effectiveness of using two-sided messages as a strategic tool for combating misinformation among those whose beliefs in the misinformation are strong.