If more people told you something was true, you'd think you would tend to believe it.
Not according to a 2019 study by Yale University which found that people believe a single source of information which is repeated across many channels (a 'false consensus'), just as readily as multiple people telling them something based on many independent original sources (a 'true consensus').
The finding showed how misinformation can be bolstered, and it had ramifications for important decisions we make based on advice we receive from places such as governments and media on information like vaccinations, wearing masks during the pandemic, or even who we vote for in an election.
The 2019 'illusion of consensus' finding has fascinated postdoctoral research associate in UNSW Science's School of Psychology, Saoirse Connor Desai, who has tested the illusion finding and found a way for people to not be tricked with so-called 'fake news' from a single source.
Her team's study has been published in Cognition.
"We found that illusion can be reduced when we give people information about how the original sources used evidence to arrive at their conclusions," Dr. Connor Desai says.
She says the finding is particularly relevant for science communication best practice—e.g. how policy makers or media present people with expert scientific evidence or research.
For instance, over 80 percent of climate change denial blogs repeat claims from a single person who claims to be a 'polar bear expert' .
"You...
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