Continued Influence Effect
The continued influence effect occurs when corrected misinformation still affects a person's later reasoning or judgments.
Established ConceptWhat does it mean in everyday language?
A correction can be understood and remembered, yet an earlier false detail may still shape how someone explains an event.
An example
Hypothetical example: a generated event summary wrongly blames a power failure on old wiring. Even after reading a correction, a reader uses the wiring claim to explain why the event was disrupted.
A more precise definition
The continued influence effect is the residual influence of misinformation after it has been corrected or retracted. Researchers distinguish remembering a correction from consistently excluding the false information when drawing inferences.
Key features
- Requires misinformation followed by a correction
- Concerns later use of the original information
- Can coexist with awareness that a correction was issued
Where the definition stops
It does not mean corrections are pointless or always make matters worse. Remembering that a false claim circulated is also different from using it as evidence.
How it relates to synthetic imprinting
It provides a specific outcome to test after synthetic misinformation is corrected. Researchers can compare formats and measure whether residual influence changes over time.
Research context
Lewandowsky and colleagues review why misinformation can remain influential and which correction approaches help. Results depend on the message, explanation, audience, and measure used.
Related terms
- Misinformation Established Concept
- Debunking Established Concept
- Reconstructive Memory Established Concept
Sources and further reading
- Misinformation and Its Correction: Continued Influence and Successful Debiasing — Stephan Lewandowsky, Ullrich K. H. Ecker, Colleen M. Seifert, Norbert Schwarz, John Cook (2012). Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 13(3), 106–131.
Cite this definition
APA: SyntheticImprinting.com. (2026). Continued Influence Effect. https://syntheticimprinting.com/terms/continued-influence-effect/
MLA: “Continued Influence Effect.” SyntheticImprinting.com, 2026, https://syntheticimprinting.com/terms/continued-influence-effect/. Accessed September 26, 2026.
Chicago: SyntheticImprinting.com. “Continued Influence Effect.” Last modified 2026-09-24. https://syntheticimprinting.com/terms/continued-influence-effect/.
What the status means
A concept used in academic or professional literature. This label does not mean every claim about it is settled.
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