First Amendment knowledge and competence in U.S. residents

What is it about?

Many people in the U.S. do not fully understand their First Amendment rights, which could lead to them not being able to exercise those rights or unintentionally breaking the law by misusing them. This study examined how well people know their First Amendment rights and when they can apply that knowledge in certain situations. Results revealed that a quarter of participants failed a test on knowledge of the First Amendment. Further, participants' subjective beliefs about their knowledge did not always align with their objective level of knowledge, a pattern known as the Dunning-Kruger Effect, where people tend to overestimate what they know. The participants also failed to accurately apply their knowledge of the First Amendment to real-world situations.

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Photo by Mike Newbry on Unsplash

Photo by Mike Newbry on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study showed that many U.S. residents have impaired knowledge of the First Amendment, but are overly confident in their knowledge. Knowledge of these rights and competence to accurately apply them should be improved to promote a more safe, knowledgeable, and democratic society.