Browsing by Author "Konukoglu, Kivanc"

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Citation - WoS: 2
Citation - Scopus: 3
How do beliefs in free will and determinism correlate with beliefs in conspiracy paranormal and pseudoscience beliefs?
(Elsevier Ltd, 2024) Sinan Alper; Kivanc Konukoglu; Eylul Deran Atalay; Aysenur Duzgun; Onurcan Yilmaz; Duzgun, Aysenur; Alper, Sinan; Yilmaz, Onurcan; Atalay, Eylul Deran; Konukoglu, Kivanc
In this study we tested the relationship between personal agency beliefs represented by free will scientific and fatalistic determinism and unpredictability and epistemically suspect beliefs (ESBs) including conspiracy paranormal and pseudoscience beliefs across two different cultures (Türkiye and the UK). In two preregistered studies (NStudy 1 = 682 NStudy 2 = 532) we proposed and found correlational evidence for the idea that although seemingly contradictory both forms of determinism—scientific and fatalistic—might lead individuals to feel a reduced control over their actions prompting them towards simpler explanations offered by ESBs thereby compensating for a diminished sense of agency. The relationship between free will unpredictability and ESBs varied by culture likely influenced by the cultural interpretation of those beliefs. Our results underscore the link between personal agency and ESBs suggesting that ESBs may act as a safeguard against eroding personal agency. © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Citation - WoS: 3
Citation - Scopus: 2
Perceived expert and laypeople consensus predict belief in local conspiracy theories in a non-WEIRD culture: Evidence from Turkey
(Society for Judgment and Decision making, 2023) Sinan Alper; Büsra Elif Yelbuz; Kivanc Konukoglu; Alper, Sinan; Konukoglu, Kivanc; Yelbuz, Busra Elif
Past research has shown that perceived scientific consensus (or lack thereof) on an issue predicts belief in misinformation. In the current study (N = 729) we investigated how perceived consensus among both experts and laypeople predicts beliefs in localized and specific conspiracy theories in Turkey a non-WEIRD country. Participants in our study were found to overestimate consensus among both experts and laypeople regarding baseless conspiracy theories surrounding the alleged secret articles of the Lausanne Treaty and unused mining reserves in Turkey. Notably conspiracy believers exhibited a higher tendency to overestimate consensus compared to non-believers. Furthermore perceived expert consensus had a stronger association with conspiracy beliefs than perceived laypeople consensus. We also explored the correlates of conspiracy beliefs and perceived consensus including socioeconomic factors worldview cognitive sophistication and personality. The results further indicate that the correlations between belief and perceived consensus manifest with comparable magnitudes irrespective of the specific conspiracy theories under consideration. These findings support the potential of perceived consensus as an important factor for understanding conspiracy beliefs. © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.