The Role Of Cognitive Biases As A Relative Factor Doomscrolling On Social Media Among Yarmouk University Students In Light Of Some Variables
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/Edu.2026.14620Keywords:
Cognitive Bias, Doomscrolling, Yarmouk University StudentsAbstract
Objectives: This study aimed to identify the level of cognitive biases, passive browsing, and the relative contribution of cognitive biases to passive browsing among students at Yarmouk University in Jordan, in light of certain variables.
Methodology: The study sample consisted of 356 students (155 male and 201 female), selected using convenience sampling. To achieve the study objectives, the Melnyk & Stadnik (2024) scale for passive browsing and the Van der Gaag et al. (2013) scale for cognitive biases were used.
Results: The study results indicated that the overall level of cognitive biases was (moderate) across all dimensions. The results also indicated that the overall level of passive browsing was (moderate), and for the dimensions after reflection, it was (low), while the dimensions (addiction, resilience, and mental health) were at the moderate level. The study results for the sample as a whole showed the ability of (attention to threats, self-cognitive problems, social cognitive problems, and safe behaviors) to predict passive browsing; they explained (7%) of passive browsing, and the predictive variables explained (1.7%) of the dimension (attention to threats). The study found that the predictive variables explained 3.1% of the subjective cognitive problems dimension, 1.2% of the social cognitive problems dimension, and 1.1% of the safe behaviors dimension. However, the percentage of variance explained by the variables of gender, academic year, and specialization, jumping to conclusions, rigid beliefs, and external attribution was not statistically significant.
Conclusions: The study recommended several measures, most notably training students to distinguish between facts and inferences and reducing hasty judgments, which would contribute to improving the quality of their thinking and decision-making in academic and social situations.
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