The negative suggestion effect: Pondering incorrect alternatives may be hazardous to your knowledge.

Abstract

This article examines the negative suggestion effect, or the impact of exposure to incorrect alternatives on memory for correct information. All experiments used the following design: (a) cued-recall test of general facts (e.g., second smallest planet) with immediate correct feedback, (b) interpolated exposure to incorrect information related to Test 1 items, and (c) a second test over the same items as Test 1. Test 2 was either multiple choice or cued recall and was given either immediately or I week after interpolation. Three experiments confirmed the existence of negative suggestion: Exposure to misinformation hindered subsequent performance on those items, relative to noninterpolated control items. The magnitude of this decrement is unrelated to retention interval, type of second test, number of incorrect alternatives exposed, and number of repetitions of incorrect alternatives.