Prior knowledge can hinder credibility evaluation through selective attention and overconfidence¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · theoretical r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Readers may attend selectively to information aligning with existing prior knowledge, reducing attention to source features and hindering revision of inaccurate knowledge. → Carita Kiili 2026 q2 i? Strong reliance on prior knowledge can lead to overconfidence and reduced criticality. → Carita Kiili 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Carita Kiili 2026¶

Carita Kiili, Ivar Bråten, and Julie Coiro. (2026). The framework of prior knowledge in online credibility evaluation. Educational Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2026.2717081

q2 · i? · theoretical · r3

The review reports, citing Stadtler and Bromme (2014), that "Readers may attend selectively to information that aligns with their existing prior knowledge," which can reduce attention to source features or hinder revision of inaccurate knowledge. No effect size is printed.

"Readers may attend selectively to information that aligns with their existing prior knowledge (Stadtler & Bromme, 2014), which can reduce their attention to source features (Bråten et al., 2018) or hinder revision of inaccurate knowledge (Ecker et al., 2022)."

Carita Kiili 2026 (2)¶

Carita Kiili, Ivar Bråten, and Julie Coiro. (2026). The framework of prior knowledge in online credibility evaluation. Educational Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2026.2717081

q2 · i? · theoretical · r3

The review asserts, citing Kruger and Dunning (1999), that "strong reliance on one’s prior knowledge can also lead to overcon - fidence and reduced criticality." The article offers this as a cited caution without further evidence; no effect size is printed.

"Finally, strong reliance on one’s prior knowledge can also lead to overcon - fidence and reduced criticality (Kruger & Dunning, 1999)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Critical Thinking — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Five prior knowledge types map onto first-, second-, and third-hand credibility evaluation strategies — related
• Inaccurate prior beliefs undermine readers' ability to question online misinformation — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Online genre knowledge shapes credibility expectations and guides credibility evaluations — related
• Gaps in source knowledge hinder source-credibility judgments, particularly inferences about benevolence — related
• Misconceptions were addressed in nine reviewed articles, all in science, via augmented activation, refutation texts, or analogical reasoning, though one study found activating inaccurate information may not be detrimental — related