Verifying online information: Development and validation of a self-report scale

Misinformation endangers democracy, science, and rational behavior. Verifying information and recognizing misinformation are critical skills, but there are few measures of these abilities. To help close this gap, we developed and validated the Verifying Online Information (VOI) self-report scale, which assesses individual differences in online information verification. Two study samples were collected through Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 958). In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis suggested a 22-item scale (VOI-22; α = 0.95) with two underlying factors: direct and indirect verification of online information. In Study 2, the bifactor model was affirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity was demonstrated with the positive factor Need for Cognition, and discriminant validity was demonstrated with social desirability. Two abbreviated scales (with three and seven items) were also created and validated using genetic algorithms. VOI will allow researchers and educators to evaluate behaviors associated with verifying online information, making it a critical tool in the fight against misinformation.