Educational Approaches to Improve Perception of Misinformation Resulting From Misleading Graphs (Poster 27)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Fourteen
  In Poster Session: Technology, Instruction, Cognition and Learning SIG Poster Session

Abstract

Misinformation poses a serious societal threat. Visual misinformation that results from poorly designed graphs is a prevalent source of misinformation. The present research draws on prior work on graph comprehension. While most prior interventions for graph comprehension focus on conceptual processes, the present research focuses on perceptual processes because many misinformation scenarios target perceptual processes. Study 1 demonstrates the effectiveness of a perceptual training that teaches viewers to adjust their perception of effects displayed in bar graphs. Study 2 investigates which visual features have the strongest potential to mislead viewers’ perception of information depicted in pie charts, line graphs, and bar graphs. The findings provide guidance for educational interventions that teach viewers to be less susceptible to misinformation.

Author

• Martina A. Rau, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Presenting Author