We see it in the anti-vaxxer movement, we see it in politics, and we see it when people are asked to rate their own intelligence. (Or any capability, for that matter.)
The problem is, Fernbach and colleagues say, is that this DKE may prevent people who know less about scientific issues from seeking out new knowledge or being open-minded in light of new evidence – meaning they are likely to stay in the dark.
"Our findings suggest that changing peoples' minds first requires them to appreciate what they don't know," Nicholas Light, a Leeds School of Business PhD candidate and study co-author, said in a statement.
"Without this first step, educational interventions might not work very well to bring people in line with the scientific consensus."