Revising Clusters of Misconceptions With Multiple Refutation Texts

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 8
  In Poster Session: Section 1a, Poster Session 2. Literacy: Reading and Writing Across Contexts (San Diego)

Abstract

Readers encounter information from multiple sources that can reactivate multiple misconceptions. The Knowledge Revision Components Framework – Multiple Documents (KReC-MD) proposes that several factors (i.e., text structure, source credibility, and intertextual integration) may influence revision of clusters of misconceptions, which may include flawed individual beliefs that may in turn underlie a broader, more generalized misconception in prior knowledge. We hypothesized that readers would show better knowledge revision when they integrated information from multiple texts that explicitly refuted their misconceptions and presented accurate explanations from high-credibility sources. The results supported this hypothesis and showed that integration and high-credibility (versus low-credibility) sources fostered revision. Moreover, integration fostered the maintenance of revised knowledge after a delay, as well as revision of the generalized misconception.

Authors

• Reese Butterfuss, Arizona State University

• Panayiota Kendeou, University of Minnesota