Ana Torresarpi
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Terri Conley
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Psychology / LSA
Program:
Authors: Terri Conley, Ana Torresarpi, Noora Iskander
Session: Session 7: 4:40 pm – 5:30 pm
Poster: 96
Abstract
This study seeks to understand if information overload causes a state of nescience—the idea that the truth is ‘unknowable’. Our research question explores a relationship between information overload and entering a state of nescience, or unknowing. We seek to expand on previous theorizing about nescience by manipulating information overload to promote nescience. To test this, we conducted a series of experiments in which participants were scientifically induced into a state of information overload, and then provided a questionnaire that asked a series of nescience related questions. We did this through assigning a participant a certain reading; the control group would receive a small stack of 3 agreeing articles on a given topic, while the experimental group was given 7 long, contradicting articles. Then we asked questions to see whether they entered a state of nescience in the information overload condition. It is believed that more people will answer questions that indicate they’ve been placed in this state of nescience, even if momentarily. We hypothesize that giving a larger amount of reading to participants will induce a state of nescience, leading them to answer the questionnaire with a higher subjectivism in regards to truth, a lack of intellectual humility, and a willingness to accept more extreme ideas as fact. These ideas relate to the polarization in the media and how much information is being made available to people. This research will help individuals make better decisions about the information they are consuming and be mindful of differing opinions
