Abstract
Drawing on dual-process theory, we examine how political partisanship and cognitive reflection interact to influence belief in fake news, particularly in the context of System 2-based intervention mechanisms. We explore whether users with higher cognitive reflection are more resistant to misinformation and if belief strength increases when headlines align with the user’s political ideology. An experiment will test the effect of headline congruence, intervention presence, and cognitive style, with political partisanship as a key moderator. Findings aim to inform theory by providing insights into the effectiveness of dual-process interventions for the current politicised digital environments by accounting for ideological entrenchment and cognitive differences.
Recommended Citation
Tan, Elijah Shi An; Kirshner, Samuel; and Lim, Eric, "Default Beliefs: The Impact of Political Partisanship on
Dual-Process Cognition and Intervention Effectiveness
Against Fake News" (2025). ACIS 2025 Proceedings. 289.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/acis2025/289