(63) Seeking Truth: Students' Approaches to Assessing the Validity of News Claims

     In the context of current concerns regarding “fake news,” we sought to examine whether and how college students determine the validity of news headlines. Participants were recruited via e-mails to the entire... [ view full abstract ]

     In the context of current concerns regarding “fake news,” we sought to examine whether and how college students determine the validity of news headlines. Participants were recruited via e-mails to the entire Sewanee student body; thirty-four students varying in gender, ethnicity, age, and major voluntarily participated. Participants were given three supposed news headlines and asked to rate for each headline (1) the validity of the claims made, and (2) their confidence in the validity rating. Participants rated (1) and (2) again again following a 30-minute time period during which they had the option to seek additional information via a laptop computer. Participants’ search processes are revealed by laptop screen recordings and by their self-report in response to questions about the process and any changes in their ratings. We found reliable changes in validity ratings that were generally accompanied by higher confidence ratings following the 30-minute optional research period. We will share more detailed analyses of participants’ search processes, including data from the screen recordings. These findings offer insight into the extent and processes by which college students assess the validity of claims they encounter, including the amount and nature of online information sought and the relative significance given to various sources of information.