Abstract

Corrections to misinformation are an essential tool in the fight against misinformation. The current experiments aimed to test whether repetition may enhance the efficacy of corrections. While models emphasizing memory for the correction suggest repetition may benefit corrections, other models posit limits on the frequency with which misinformation can be corrected effectively. In two experiments (N_Total = 192; U.S. undergraduate sample), we tested the effects of repeated corrections on belief in misinformation by comparing the effects of retracting false information plus presenting true information with only retracting false information (Experiment 1) and presenting only conflicting true information (Experiment 2). Across both experiments, results showed that repetition of corrections reduced belief in misinformation. While repeated retractions accompanied by conflicting true information had the largest correction effects, retractions alone and truth alone also led to significant reductions in belief in misinformation. Overall, these results demonstrate the benefits of repetition in the correction of misinformation.