Effectiveness of the Scientific Reasoning Intervention on Reducing Online Conspiracy Beliefs and Misinformation Engagement: A Study Using the (Mis)Information Game

The increased perceived threat of conspiracy theories (CTs) and misinformation has led to research on strategies to reduce their spread. One method is to encourage stronger critical scientific appraisal skills, known as the scientific reasoning intervention (SRI). This study examined whether the SRI could reduce CT endorsement and engagement with misinformation content with targeted qualities (i.e., that do not overlap with CTs) in an online context through a simulated social media platform. After completing baseline measures of CT endorsement and misinformation engagement, 184 participants were randomly allocated to the SRI or control condition. A repeated measures analysis found people exposed to the SRI showed a lower endorsement of CT beliefs and were less likely to positively engage (i.e., like/share) with false posts compared with the control group. The findings suggest that the SRI can encourage some small reductions in CT endorsement and online engagement with misinformation.