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Research group on "Competence development and competence modeling"

The research lab "Competence Development and Competence Modeling" examines learning processes that lie at the crossroads of school and out-of-school education. Special attention is given to the study of learning about science topics, which today often takes place in digital information environments. We examine the reading skills people need to acquire knowledge without falling for misinformation and the metacognitive control of the learning process.
Based on basic psychological research, we continuously develop and evaluate evidence-based interventions aimed at enhancing the competencies required for informal learning in digital information environments.


Five recent publications

  • Marten, P., Aßmann, S., Baumgarten, C., & Stadtler, M. (in press). Can 5G Radiation Really Kill Birds? Promoting Epistemic Strategies Against Online Misinformation With a Training for Lower Secondary Students. Learning and Individual Differences.
  • Scharrer, L., Thomm, E., Stadtler, M., & Bromme, R. (2025). What makes sources credible? How source features shape evaluation of scientific information. The Journal of Experimental Education. doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2025.2477719 (open access)
  • Marten, P. L., & Stadtler, M. (2025). Building resilience against online misinformation: A teacher-led training promoting evaluation strategies among lower secondary students. Computers in Human Behavior, 165, 108548. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108548  (open access)
  • Barzilai, S., & Stadtler, M. (2025). Learning to Evaluate (Mis)information in an Online Game: Strategies Matter! Computers & Education, 227, 105210. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2024.105210 (open access)
  • Abel, R., Roelle, J., & Stadtler, M. (2024). Whom to Believe? Fostering Source Evaluation Skills with Interleaved Presentation of Untrustworthy and Trustworthy Social Media Sources, Discourse Processes. doi.org/10.1080/0163853X.2024.2339733 open access

Most recent talks

  • Marten, P. & Stadtler, M. (2025, Januar). Kann ich dieser Information vertrauen? Effekte eines Strategietrainings für die Mittelstufe zur Förderung von Evaluationsstrategien [Can I trust this information? Effects of a strategy training for promoting evaluation strategies among secondary school students], Paper presented at GEBF, Mannheim, Germany.
  • Schuster, C., Waldeyer, J., Maiwald, P., & Stadtler, M. (2024, September). Enhancing Metacomprehension via Forum Post Writing and Expert Post Comparison in Multi-Text Reading. Paper presented at the Biannual Meeting of the EARLI SIG 2 "Comprehension of Text and Graphics", Valencia, Spain.
  • Stadtler, M. & Barzilai, S. (2024, September). How Does a Misinformation Game Work? Effects of Evaluation Strategies and Explanation. Paper presented at the Biannual Meeting of the EARLI SIG 2 "Comprehension of Text and Graphics", Valencia, Spain.