11 Facts About Misinformation effect

Misinformation effect occurs when a person's recall of episodic memories becomes less accurate because of post-event information.

Misinformation effect is an example of retroactive interference which occurs when information presented later interferes with the ability to retain previously encoded information.

One mechanism through which the misinformation effect occurs is source misattribution, in which the false information given after the event becomes incorporated into people's memory of the actual event.

The misinformation effect appears to stem from memory impairment, meaning that post-event misinformation makes it harder for people to remember the event.

Research on the misinformation effect has uncovered concerns about the permanence and reliability of memory.

Understanding the misinformation effect is important given its implications for the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, as there are many chances for misinformation to be incorporated into witnesses' memories through conversations with other witnesses, police questioning, and court appearances.

Misinformation effect has been examined in individuals with varying imagery abilities.

Misinformation effect can have dire consequences on decision making that can have harmful personal and public outcomes in a variety of circumstances.

The presence of these confirmatory messages can serve to validate the Misinformation effect as presented, making it more difficult to unroot the problem.

Some studies suggest that the misinformation effect can occur despite exposure to accurate information.

In particular, research on the misinformation effect has frequently applied to eyewitness testimony and has been used to evaluate the trustworthiness of eyewitnesses' memory.