Cognitive ability mattered in the UK’s vote for Brexit, University of Bath research shows

EurekAlert ^ | 11/22/2023 | UNIVERSITY OF BATH

[aimhigh]

Susceptibility to misinformation and disinformation likely to have played part in Leave vote.

New research from the University of Bath’s School of Management finds that higher cognitive ability was strongly linked to voting to Remain in the 2016 UK referendum on European Union Membership.

The study shows that cognitive skills including memory, verbal fluency, fluid reasoning and numerical reasoning, were correlated with how people decided to vote.

Lead author Dr Chris Dawson, from the University of Bath’s School of Management, said: “This study adds to existing academic evidence showing that low cognitive ability makes people more susceptible to misinformation and disinformation. People with lower cognitive ability and analytical thinking skills find it harder to detect and discount this type of information.

[Timmy]

They always turn out to just be smarter than us.

[monkeyshine]

It’s just a rationalization designed to justify some people thinking negatively about those with whom they disagree.

Nevertheless, who cares? What’s inherently wrong with a visceral vote?

[MeganC]

These same college geniuses with their massive intellects can’t figure out what a woman is.

[aimhigh]

These same college geniuses with their massive intellects can’t figure out what a woman is.

Dittos!

Educational achievement <> knowledge <> wisdom.

[Keflavik76]

The University of Bath’s School of Management can't understand how the people that voted Leave didn't fall for the media lies about Brexit.  They are sure the Leave vote is caused by low cognitive ability but at the same time they probably believed media misinformation (Hoax) about the Steele  dossier.

[Winniesboy]

Neither of which had the remotest connection with EU membership.