Consider the source: Children link the accuracy of text‐based sources to the accuracy of the author

Abstract

The present research investigated whether young children link the accuracy of text-based information to the accuracy of its author. Across three experiments, three- and four-year-olds (N = 231) received information about object labels from accurate and inaccurate sources who provided information both in text and verbally. Of primary interest was whether young children would selectively rely on information provided by more accurate sources, regardless of the form in which the information was communicated. Experiment 1 tested children's trust in text-based information (e.g., books) written by an author with a history of either accurate or inaccurate verbal testimony and found that children showed greater trust in books written by accurate authors. Experiment 2 replicated the findings of Experiment 1 and extended them by showing that children's selective trust in more accurate text-based sources was not dependent on experience trusting or distrusting the author's verbal testimony. Experiment 3 investigated this understanding in reverse by testing children's trust in verbal testimony communicated by an individual who had authored either accurate or inaccurate text-based information. Experiment 3 revealed that children showed greater trust in individuals who had authored accurate rather than inaccurate books. Experiment 3 also demonstrated that children used the accuracy of text-based sources to make inferences about the mental states of the authors. Taken together, these results suggest children do indeed link the reliability of text-based sources to the reliability of the author. Statement of Contribution Existing knowledge Children use sources' prior accuracy to predict future accuracy in face-to-face verbal interactions. Children who are just learning to read show increased trust in text bases (vs. verbal) information. It is unknown whether children consider authors' prior accuracy when judging the accuracy of text-based information. New knowledge added by this article Preschool children track sources' accuracy across communication mediums - from verbal to text-based modalities and vice versa. Children link the reliability of text-based sources to the reliability of the author.

Epistemic trust: a comprehensive review of empirical insights and implications for developmental psychopathology

“…For example, Fedra & Schmidt ( 2019 ) found that 3- and 4-year-olds rejected knowledge from a communicator who lacked perceptual access and accepted claims from another who had visual access to the target object. In addition, children are more trusting of claims made by informants with relevant, as opposed to irrelevant, expertise (Boseovski & Thurman, 2014 ; Koenig & Harris, 2005 ; Koenig & Jaswal, 2011 ; Kushnir et al ., 2013 ; Lane & Harris, 2015 ; Lucas et al ., 2017 ; Vanderbilt et al ., 2018 ;). For example, Kushnir et al .…”

“…Past accuracy refers to a history of making accurate claims or good performances in tasks. It was found that children can track an informant’s record of past accuracy and use it as a cue to current reliability across experimental variations (Barth et al ., 2014 ; Brink & Wellman, 2020 ; Brosseau-Liard et al ., 2015 ; Corriveau et al , 2011 ; Gweon et al ., 2014 ; Kushnir & Koenig, 2017 ; Li & Yow, 2018 ; Liu et al ., 2013 ; Pasquini et al ., 2007 ; Poulin-Dubois & Chow, 2009 ; Ronfard & Lane, 2018 ; Vanderbilt et al , 2018 ). For example, Poulin-Dubois and Chow ( 2009 ) found that 16-month-old infants were able to encode and recall the accuracy and inaccuracy of adults’ searching behaviors in a task, and this record influenced how much attention the infants paid to those adults’ searching behaviors in a subsequent task.…”

“…When there is a conflict between the 2 types of cues, most studies found that children rely more on epistemic cues than social markers to guide their decisions of trust (Baumann et al ., 2023 ; Corriveau et al ., 2013 ; Corriveau & Harris, 2009b ; Jaswal & Neely, 2006 ; Liu et al , 2013 ; MacDonald et al ., 2013 ; Ronfard & Lane, 2018 ; Terrier et al ., 2016 ; Vanderbilt et al ., 2018 ; Yang et al , 2023 ). For example, a non-native-accented informant with a history of past accuracy was favored in comparison to a nativeaccented informant with a history of inaccuracy (Corriveau et al ., 2013 ).…”

Is secondhand information better read or said? Factors influencing children’s endorsements of text-based information

“…Children have access to a variety of non-human information sources such as text-based sources of information (e.g., small information cards; Corriveau et al, 2014;Einav et al, 2013;Einav et al, 2018;Eyden, et al, 2013;Robinson et al, 2013), the Internet or search engines (Einav et al, 2020;, books (Vanderbilt, Ochoa, & Heilbrun, 2018). and even artificial intelligences including voice assistants (e.g., Siri or Alexa), humanoid robots, or computer informants (Danovitch & Alzahabi, 2013;Lovato, 2019;Lovato & Piper, 2019).…”

Confiança Seletiva Em Crianças Pré-Escolares: Uma Revisão Sistemática

“…Em resposta à primeira pergunta levantada nessa revisão sobre o desenvolvimento da confiança seletiva nos anos pré-escolares, os artigos, em conjunto, revelam que as crianças de três anos já são capazes de rastrear o histórico de acurácia de informantes e esse rastreamento não depende da forma como a informação é veiculada (e.g., informação oral ou escrita; Vanderbilt, Ochoa, & Heilbrun, 2018). Na mesma idade, elas também já são capazes de discriminar um informante com más intenções de outro que tem boas intenções (Mascaro & Sperber, 2009).…”