A series of ten studies has shown that scientific literacy reduces belief in conspiracy theories. Improving people’s ability to assess evidence through increased scientific literacy makes them less likely to endorse such beliefs. The key aspects of scientific literacy contributing to this effect are scientific knowledge and scientific reasoning. The research findings were published in the Journal of Consumer Research. Conspiracy beliefs are beliefs that certain events or situations are the result of secret plots by powerful groups or individuals, rather than by chance or acknowledged causes. I…