Cognitive Reflection and Vulnerability to Misinformation among High School Students: Correlational Study

With the advent of modern means of communication during the twenty-first century, misinformation travels as fast as factual information. Hence, this study explores the relationship between cognitive reflection and vulnerability to misinformation. Using the descriptive correlational research design, 346 high school students who are Facebook users participated in the study. Anchored on the cognitive reflection test MCQ-4 and the vulnerability to misinformation scale, Pearson correlation was used to identify the relationship between these variables of the study. High School students reported a low level of cognitive reflection, indicating that they have a low tendency to hide their intuitive thoughts and are more guided by their quick thoughts. On the other hand, individuals with a moderate level of vulnerability to misinformation exhibit a moderate difficulty in evaluating the authenticity of online information and differentiating facts from fiction. Consequently, they tend to construe fake information as real. There was a significant negative relationship between these variables. The less they engage in slow, laborious, and analytical thinking, the more vulnerable they are to believing in fake news. It is recommended that more factors be explored that could moderate the relationship between these two to foster analytical thinking and lessen the vulnerabilities of high school students to fall for fake news.