Evaluation of misinformation among pro-Ukrainian Latvians – the role of prior attitude, analytical thinking, and emotions

In this exploratory study with a community sample ( N = 115), we look at the perception of pro-Russia and pro-Ukraine misinformation, mimicking content shared by naive Facebook users, factors related to it among Latvians. Our results support integrative model in misinformation—we found strong evidence myside bias, as misinformation was judged be significantly less accurate than misinformation. Analytical thinking, measured seven-item cognitive reflection test, associated lower levels accuracy judgments overall judgments; however, there no correlation between analytical thinking pro-Russian judgments. Pro-Ukrainian were positively positive emotions elicited level for Ukraine, participant's age. addition, participants indicated higher likelihood engaging if they came across online, trusted information, emotions. Thus, our findings emphasize role one's attitude, perception, evaluation, engagement congruent incongruent