Fostering Social Navigation and Elaboration of Controversial Topics with Preference-Inconsistent Recommendations

Abstract

Critical thinking requires knowledge about the diversity of viewpoints on controversial issues. However, the diversity of perspectives often remains unexploited: Learners prefer preference-consistent over preference-inconsistent information, a phenomenon called confirmation bias. Two lab experiments were designed to test whether technologies such as recommender systems can be used to overcome this bias. The role of preference- inconsistent recommendations was explored by comparing their influence to a condition with preference-consistent recommendations and to a control condition without recommendations. In Study 1, preference-inconsistent recommendations led to a reduction of confirmation bias and to an attenuation of preferences. In Study 2, we found that preference-inconsistent recommendations stimulated balanced recall and divergent thinking. Together these studies showed that preference-inconsistent recommendations can foster social navigation and elaboration. In conclusion, future research and practical implications are discussed.