lukas-fock.bsky.social
@lukas-fock.bsky.social
Correct Link to the preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
The link in the first post leads to the data, sorry for the confusion.
The link in the first post leads to the data, sorry for the confusion.
OSF
osf.io
January 15, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Correct Link to the preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
The link in the first post leads to the data, sorry for the confusion.
The link in the first post leads to the data, sorry for the confusion.
Take Home Message:
If plausible and implausible conspiracy theories are used interchangeably, conflation between rational and irrational aspects of conspiracy belief cannot be ruled out.
If plausible and implausible conspiracy theories are used interchangeably, conflation between rational and irrational aspects of conspiracy belief cannot be ruled out.
January 15, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Take Home Message:
If plausible and implausible conspiracy theories are used interchangeably, conflation between rational and irrational aspects of conspiracy belief cannot be ruled out.
If plausible and implausible conspiracy theories are used interchangeably, conflation between rational and irrational aspects of conspiracy belief cannot be ruled out.
Classification method:
We only considered those conspiracy theories as plausible, which had multiple reliable journalistic outlets (e.g., BBC, DLF, NYTimes) reporting on them. For the implausible ones we used and adopted items from past research (i.e., the belief that 9/11 was an inside job).
We only considered those conspiracy theories as plausible, which had multiple reliable journalistic outlets (e.g., BBC, DLF, NYTimes) reporting on them. For the implausible ones we used and adopted items from past research (i.e., the belief that 9/11 was an inside job).
January 15, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Classification method:
We only considered those conspiracy theories as plausible, which had multiple reliable journalistic outlets (e.g., BBC, DLF, NYTimes) reporting on them. For the implausible ones we used and adopted items from past research (i.e., the belief that 9/11 was an inside job).
We only considered those conspiracy theories as plausible, which had multiple reliable journalistic outlets (e.g., BBC, DLF, NYTimes) reporting on them. For the implausible ones we used and adopted items from past research (i.e., the belief that 9/11 was an inside job).
Our results suggest:
High conspiracy mentality inclines participants to assert credibility to conspiracy theories regardless of their plausibility.
Actively open-minded thinking and news media knowledge both improve participants’ discernment between plausible and implausible conspiracy theories.
High conspiracy mentality inclines participants to assert credibility to conspiracy theories regardless of their plausibility.
Actively open-minded thinking and news media knowledge both improve participants’ discernment between plausible and implausible conspiracy theories.
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Our results suggest:
High conspiracy mentality inclines participants to assert credibility to conspiracy theories regardless of their plausibility.
Actively open-minded thinking and news media knowledge both improve participants’ discernment between plausible and implausible conspiracy theories.
High conspiracy mentality inclines participants to assert credibility to conspiracy theories regardless of their plausibility.
Actively open-minded thinking and news media knowledge both improve participants’ discernment between plausible and implausible conspiracy theories.
Key argument:
Signal detection theory frameworks from misinformation research should be applied to conspiracy theories! This enables us to consider the possibility that conspiracies do sometimes happen & allows to account for the irrationality of belief in implausible conspiracy theories.
Signal detection theory frameworks from misinformation research should be applied to conspiracy theories! This enables us to consider the possibility that conspiracies do sometimes happen & allows to account for the irrationality of belief in implausible conspiracy theories.
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Key argument:
Signal detection theory frameworks from misinformation research should be applied to conspiracy theories! This enables us to consider the possibility that conspiracies do sometimes happen & allows to account for the irrationality of belief in implausible conspiracy theories.
Signal detection theory frameworks from misinformation research should be applied to conspiracy theories! This enables us to consider the possibility that conspiracies do sometimes happen & allows to account for the irrationality of belief in implausible conspiracy theories.