Effects of Cognition- and Identity-Based Primes on Myside Bias

Myside bias occurs when people evaluate, generate or verify information for the benefit of their own existing beliefs; these beliefs are value judgments to which there is an emotional commitment (Stanovich, 2021). There is still little scientific knowledge about how to effectively reduce myside bias. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two measures to reduce myside bias in evaluation of arguments regarding the nutrition debate: a cognition-related measure and an identity-related measure. The identity-related measure was expected to be more effective than the cognition-related measure. N = 390 adult participants with complete data sets were recruited via German survey panels through Respondi. In an online study, participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (i.e., the two intervention measures and a control condition). Myside bias was assessed immediately after implementing the conditions and again 14 days later.

Myside bias occurs when people evaluate, generate or verify information for the benefit of their own existing beliefs; these beliefs are value judgments to which there is an emotional commitment (Stanovich, 2021). There is still little scientific knowledge about how to effectively reduce myside bias. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two measures to reduce myside bias in evaluation of arguments regarding the nutrition debate: a cognition-related measure and an identity-related measure. The identity-related measure was expected to be more effective than the cognition-related measure. N = 390 adult participants with complete data sets were recruited via German survey panels through Respondi. In an online study, participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (i.e., the two intervention measures and a control condition). Myside bias was assessed immediately after implementing the conditions and again 14 days later.