The Text-Belief Consistency Effect Among Recent Upper Secondary Graduates: An Eye Tracking Study

Readers tend to allocate more cognitive resources to processing belief-consistent than belief-inconsistent information when reading multiple texts displaying discrepant views. This phenomenon, known as the text-belief consistency effect, results in individuals being more prone to making biased decis...

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Main Authors: Mariola Giménez-Salvador, Ignacio Máñez, Raquel Cerdán
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Education Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1259
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author Mariola Giménez-Salvador
Ignacio Máñez
Raquel Cerdán
author_facet Mariola Giménez-Salvador
Ignacio Máñez
Raquel Cerdán
author_sort Mariola Giménez-Salvador
collection DOAJ
description Readers tend to allocate more cognitive resources to processing belief-consistent than belief-inconsistent information when reading multiple texts displaying discrepant views. This phenomenon, known as the text-belief consistency effect, results in individuals being more prone to making biased decisions and falling victim to manipulation and misinformation. This issue is gaining relevance due to the undeniably vast amount of information surrounding us. Hence, schools must ensure that students complete their education prepared to face this challenge. However, international surveys and research indicate a generalized literacy deficiency among students. In the present study, recent upper secondary graduates read four texts discussing a controversial topic to explore whether they effectively overcome the text-belief consistency effect or not. Eye tracking was used to explore immediate (or passive) and delayed (or strategic) text processing, and an essay task was used to measure their resulting mental representation of the text content. Results revealed no significant differences in immediate and delayed processing depending on whether the arguments were belief-consistent or belief-inconsistent. Moreover, essays displayed a balanced and unbiased approach to the debate. Despite these results suggesting this population may be capable of overcoming the text-belief consistency effect, limitations in the study and alternative explanations must be explored before drawing definite conclusions.
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spelling doaj-art-bc2d97283ced49fb8c165f8fa0f722442025-08-20T02:08:03ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022024-11-011411125910.3390/educsci14111259The Text-Belief Consistency Effect Among Recent Upper Secondary Graduates: An Eye Tracking StudyMariola Giménez-Salvador0Ignacio Máñez1Raquel Cerdán2ERI Lectura and Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainERI Lectura and Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainERI Lectura and Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainReaders tend to allocate more cognitive resources to processing belief-consistent than belief-inconsistent information when reading multiple texts displaying discrepant views. This phenomenon, known as the text-belief consistency effect, results in individuals being more prone to making biased decisions and falling victim to manipulation and misinformation. This issue is gaining relevance due to the undeniably vast amount of information surrounding us. Hence, schools must ensure that students complete their education prepared to face this challenge. However, international surveys and research indicate a generalized literacy deficiency among students. In the present study, recent upper secondary graduates read four texts discussing a controversial topic to explore whether they effectively overcome the text-belief consistency effect or not. Eye tracking was used to explore immediate (or passive) and delayed (or strategic) text processing, and an essay task was used to measure their resulting mental representation of the text content. Results revealed no significant differences in immediate and delayed processing depending on whether the arguments were belief-consistent or belief-inconsistent. Moreover, essays displayed a balanced and unbiased approach to the debate. Despite these results suggesting this population may be capable of overcoming the text-belief consistency effect, limitations in the study and alternative explanations must be explored before drawing definite conclusions.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1259reading comprehensioncognitive processescontroversiesbeliefsargumentationeye tracking
spellingShingle Mariola Giménez-Salvador
Ignacio Máñez
Raquel Cerdán
The Text-Belief Consistency Effect Among Recent Upper Secondary Graduates: An Eye Tracking Study
Education Sciences
reading comprehension
cognitive processes
controversies
beliefs
argumentation
eye tracking
title The Text-Belief Consistency Effect Among Recent Upper Secondary Graduates: An Eye Tracking Study
title_full The Text-Belief Consistency Effect Among Recent Upper Secondary Graduates: An Eye Tracking Study
title_fullStr The Text-Belief Consistency Effect Among Recent Upper Secondary Graduates: An Eye Tracking Study
title_full_unstemmed The Text-Belief Consistency Effect Among Recent Upper Secondary Graduates: An Eye Tracking Study
title_short The Text-Belief Consistency Effect Among Recent Upper Secondary Graduates: An Eye Tracking Study
title_sort text belief consistency effect among recent upper secondary graduates an eye tracking study
topic reading comprehension
cognitive processes
controversies
beliefs
argumentation
eye tracking
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1259
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