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BootinUp

(48,769 posts)
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 11:59 AM Jul 2023

How Susceptible Are You to Misinformation? There's a Test You Can Take - Scientifc American

A new misinformation quiz shows that, despite the stereotype, younger Americans have a harder time discerning fake headlines, compared with older generations

By Joanna Thompson on July 5, 2023

Many Americans seem to worry that their parents or grandparents will fall for fake news online. But as it turns out, we may be collectively concerned about the wrong generation.

Contrary to popular belief, Gen Zers and millennials could be more susceptible to online misinformation than older adults, according to a poll published online on June 29 by the research agency YouGov. What’s more, people who spend more time online had more difficulty distinguishing between real and fake news headlines. “We saw some results that are different from the ad hoc kinds of tests that [previous] researchers have done,” says Rakoen Maertens, a research psychologist at the University of Cambridge and lead author of a study on the development of the test used in the poll, which was published on June 29 in Behavior Research Methods.

Maertens’s team worked with YouGov to administer a quick online quiz based on the test that the researchers developed, dubbed the “misinformation susceptibility test” (MIST). It represents the first standardized test in psychology for misinformation and was set up in a way that allows researchers to administer it broadly and collect huge amounts of data. To create their test, Maertens and his colleagues carefully selected 10 actual headlines and 10 artificial-intelligence-generated false ones—similar to those you might encounter online—that they then categorized as “real” or “fake.” Test takers were asked to sort the real headlines from the fake news and received a percentage score at the end for each category. Here are a couple of examples of headlines from the test so you can try out your “fake news detector”: “US Support for Legal Marijuana Steady in Past Year,” “Certain Vaccines Are Loaded with Dangerous Chemicals and Toxins” and “Morocco’s King Appoints Committee Chief to Fight Poverty and Inequality.” The answers are at the bottom of this article.

Maertens and his team gave the test to thousands of people across the U.S. and the U.K. in their study, but the YouGov poll was given to 1,516 adults who were all U.S. citizens. On average, in the YouGov poll, U.S. adults correctly categorized about 65 percent of the headlines. However, age seemed to impact accuracy. Only 11 percent of Americans ages 18 to 29 correctly classified 17 or more headlines, and 36 percent got no more than 10 correct. That’s compared with 36 percent of the 65-and-older crowd who accurately assessed at least 16 headlines. And only 9 percent in the latter age group got 10 or fewer correct. On average, Americans below age 45 scored 12 out of 20, while their older counterparts scored 15.


https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-susceptible-are-you-to-fake-news-theres-a-test-for-that/
26 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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How Susceptible Are You to Misinformation? There's a Test You Can Take - Scientifc American (Original Post) BootinUp Jul 2023 OP
Hmmm. I think I'm a bit TOO skeptical erronis Jul 2023 #1
That looks like a good score to me BootinUp Jul 2023 #2
My Mist-20 score is 100%, I believe no bullshit. Croney Jul 2023 #3
I wish they told us which answers we got wrong! Scrivener7 Jul 2023 #4
I got 100%, but I took it after reading the BootinUp Jul 2023 #6
I am curious about which real news I was skeptical about drray23 Jul 2023 #5
the question about distrust was true and the Morroco question was true. nt BootinUp Jul 2023 #7
Pretty skeptical. Ocelot II Jul 2023 #8
I took MIST-16 GreenWave Jul 2023 #9
Link to test, please? nt intrepidity Jul 2023 #10
In the article it was "headlines from test". Here it is: Bernardo de La Paz Jul 2023 #12
Thank you intrepidity Jul 2023 #13
20/20 100% here too. hedda_foil Jul 2023 #24
18/20: 80, 90, 90, 0 neither distrustful or naive. Interesting OP thanks for posting. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jul 2023 #11
17/100, but 100% BS detection. intrepidity Jul 2023 #14
I couldn't seem to find a copy of the test itself, just the paper. Where is it? Martin68 Jul 2023 #15
yeah. I didn't include it originally BootinUp Jul 2023 #17
Thanks! Martin68 Jul 2023 #22
Old person here dpibel Jul 2023 #16
Not great, but OK. FuzzyRabbit Jul 2023 #18
Well there it is. Chainfire Jul 2023 #19
My results CozyMystery Jul 2023 #20
Perfect score for this bridge kid sir pball Jul 2023 #21
20 out of 20 misanthrope Jul 2023 #23
15/16 w/ 100% real news detection Orrex Jul 2023 #25
Yay! enigmania Sep 2023 #26

erronis

(16,744 posts)
1. Hmmm. I think I'm a bit TOO skeptical
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 12:16 PM
Jul 2023

🎉 Congratulations!

You're more resilient to misinformation than 71% of the US population!
📈 Your MIST-20 results: 17/20

Veracity Discernment: 70% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)

Real News Detection: 70% (ability to correctly identify real news)

Fake News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: -3 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You might be a bit skeptical when it comes to the news.

Croney

(4,864 posts)
3. My Mist-20 score is 100%, I believe no bullshit.
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 12:32 PM
Jul 2023

Last edited Sun Jul 9, 2023, 01:50 PM - Edit history (1)

A couple of questions gave me pause but I chose correctly.

Scrivener7

(52,391 posts)
4. I wish they told us which answers we got wrong!
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 12:39 PM
Jul 2023

Your MIST-20 results: 18/20

Veracity Discernment: 80% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)

Real News Detection: 80% (ability to correctly identify real news)

Fake News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: -2 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You might be a bit skeptical when it comes to the news.

BootinUp

(48,769 posts)
6. I got 100%, but I took it after reading the
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 12:52 PM
Jul 2023

answers to three of the questions at the end of the article.

drray23

(7,897 posts)
5. I am curious about which real news I was skeptical about
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 12:43 PM
Jul 2023

I did detect all the fake news but apparently was skeptical about 2 real news.

maybe the king of morroco appointing a commission to fight poverty (I answered no) ?
the fact 1/3 of people distrust government (I answered yes)


You're more resilient to misinformation than 81% of the US population!

📈 Your MIST-20 results: 18/20
Veracity Discernment: 80% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)

Real News Detection: 80% (ability to correctly identify real news)

Fake News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: -2 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You might be a bit skeptical when it comes to the news.

Ocelot II

(120,110 posts)
8. Pretty skeptical.
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 12:54 PM
Jul 2023
Congratulations!
You're more resilient to misinformation than 89% of the US population!
Your MIST-20 results: 19/20
Veracity Discernment: 90% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)
Real News Detection: 90% (ability to correctly identify real news)
Fake News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify fake news)
Distrust/Naïvité: -1 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You might be a bit skeptical when it comes to the news.


I'd like to know which one I missed, though.

hedda_foil

(16,485 posts)
24. 20/20 100% here too.
Fri Jul 14, 2023, 01:58 PM
Jul 2023

Fake News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: 0 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You are neither too skeptical nor too gullible when it comes to the news.

Thanks to DU!

intrepidity

(7,822 posts)
14. 17/100, but 100% BS detection.
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 01:47 PM
Jul 2023

Congratulations!
You're more resilient to misinformation than 71% of the US population!

📈 Your MIST-20 results: 17/20
Veracity Discernment: 70% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)

Real News Detection: 70% (ability to correctly identify real news)

Fake News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: -3 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You might be a bit skeptical when it comes to the news.

dpibel

(3,228 posts)
16. Old person here
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 02:53 PM
Jul 2023

🎉 Congratulations!

You're more resilient to misinformation than 96% of the US population!
📈 Your MIST-20 results: 20/20

Veracity Discernment: 100% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)

Real News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify real news)

Fake News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: 0 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You are neither too skeptical nor too gullible when it comes to the news.

FuzzyRabbit

(2,077 posts)
18. Not great, but OK.
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 03:38 PM
Jul 2023

Your MIST-16 results: 15/16

Veracity Discernment: 87.5% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)

Real News Detection: 87.5% (ability to correctly identify real news)

Fake News Detection: 100.0% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: -1 (ranges from -8 to +8, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You might be a bit skeptical when it comes to the news.

 

Chainfire

(17,757 posts)
19. Well there it is.
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 05:55 PM
Jul 2023

🎉 Congratulations!
You're more resilient to misinformation than 89% of the US population!

📈 Your MIST-20 results: 19/20
Veracity Discernment: 90% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)

Real News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify real news)

Fake News Detection: 90% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: +1 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You might be a bit trusting when it comes to the news.

CozyMystery

(652 posts)
20. My results
Sun Jul 9, 2023, 11:01 PM
Jul 2023

🎉 Congratulations!

You're more resilient to misinformation than 89% of the US population!
📈 Your MIST-20 results: 19/20

Veracity Discernment: 90% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)

Real News Detection: 90% (ability to correctly identify real news)

Fake News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: -1 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You might be a bit skeptical when it comes to the news.

sir pball

(4,927 posts)
21. Perfect score for this bridge kid
Mon Jul 10, 2023, 09:06 AM
Jul 2023

Born in 1979, so I'm in that hazy "Xennial" bridge zone…

🎉 Congratulations!
You're more resilient to misinformation than 96% of the US population!

📈 Your MIST-20 results: 20/20
Veracity Discernment: 100% (ability to accurately distinguish real news from fake news)

Real News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify real news)

Fake News Detection: 100% (ability to correctly identify fake news)

Distrust/Naïvité: 0 (ranges from -10 to +10, overly skeptical to overly gullible)

👉 Your ability to recognize real and fake news is great! You are neither too skeptical nor too gullible when it comes to the news.

Orrex

(63,916 posts)
25. 15/16 w/ 100% real news detection
Mon Jul 31, 2023, 02:06 PM
Jul 2023

I'm not convinced that headlines alone are an adequate measure of people's ability to discern bullshit.

A headline can be faulty or accurate independent of the attached article's veracity.

enigmania

(197 posts)
26. Yay!
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 08:29 AM
Sep 2023

MIST-20 results: 20/20! A 45 year old millennial in-law listens to talk radio and likes to announce blather such as "evolution is a bunch of shit, and aliens introduce new species because no animal can 'decide' to become another animal", while imitating the shock jock's voice. Frightening decline of critical thinking and objectivity.

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