RESULTS & IMPACT

Our misinformation project addresses an urgent scientific and societal challenge recognized across European research and policy agendas.

Scientific Impact

The findings will advance psychological models of misinformation by integrating three mechanisms that are often studied separately: insufficient knowledge about misinformation, inattention to accuracy during information consumption and motivated reasoning driven by prior beliefs or identities. It will provide novel evidence showing whether interventions improve truth and manipulation discernment, reduce engagement with misinformation in naturalistic settings (e.g., sharing, liking and clicking) and whether the desired effects persist over time and generalize to unfamiliar content. By studying both adults and adolescents, it will also generate testable predictions about how intervention effectiveness varies across populations, contexts and individual characteristics.

Social & Economic Impact

The project will contribute to strengthening critical thinking and digital literacy among the population. Its findings may help support more informed decision-making in areas such as science, health and public affairs, while helping people recognize content that uses emotional language, missing context, misleading claims or social cues to influence them. The development of scalable online interventions and adaptable educational workshops may provide practical, relatively low-cost tools for schools, science museums, public institutions, science communicators, fact-checking organizations and digital platforms.

Transfer & Open Science

Hypotheses and analysis plans are preregistered on the Open Science Framework before data collection, whenever appropriate. Results will be disseminated through open-access, peer-reviewed publications, with manuscripts also shared as preprints. Research materials, appropriately anonymized datasets and analysis code will be deposited in public repositories following FAIR principles and applicable data-protection requirements.

Dissemination

Findings will be presented at national and international conferences in psychology and misinformation research, as well as at CIMCYC scientific meetings. Knowledge transfer and public engagement will take place through the workshops developed with the Parque de las Ciencias de Granada, activities with participating schools and accessible science-communication materials. The CIMCYC International Doctoral Summer School on Psychological Approaches to Misinformation in Minds and Society further supports dissemination, international networking and the development of new collaborative research projects.