Misinformation, or information initially accepted as fact until later corrected or retracted, can persist in memory and influence subsequent inferences and judgments. This phenomenon of continued reliance on false information is known as the continued influence effect (CIE). Previous research has indicated that motivational factors can influence the processing of misinformation and retractions. This study was developed to contribute to the understanding of misinformation and the CIE by investigating the impact of racial identity on belief perseverance and one’s ability to process corrective information. A random sample Black and White participants were randomly assigned to a condition in the 2 x 2 between-subjects factorial design. Participants were asked to read a story about gentrification complete the subsequent questionnaire, which incorporated factual and inference questions. It is hypothesized that individuals are more likely to believe corrective information when there is some shared commonality regarding the identity of the individual presenting the information. This study will address a gap in the literature about identity as a contributing factor to the persistent reliance on false information. Examining the continued influence effect from this perspective may provide new insight into the mechanisms behind the resilience of misinformation.
