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Reading:
Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias occurs when people focus on information that supports their existing beliefs while ignoring information that contradicts them. This tendency can affect how people think and make decisions, often leading them to reinforce their existing opinions instead of questioning them. For example, when doing research, people might only pay attention to studies or facts that match their ideas and ignore those that don’t. This bias can limit a person’s ability to see the bigger picture or to consider alternative viewpoints, which are essential for making balanced decisions.
Listening:
Question:
Using the professor’s example, explain how confirmation bias affects decision making.
Sample Answer:
Both the reading and the lecture talk about confirmation bias. Confirmation bias basically means that people will subconsciously look for evidence that supports their ideas while dismissing evidence that contradicts them. The professor gives an example of this. He talks about a woman in a nutrition class researching organic foods. If the woman believes organic foods are better, she’ll typically read more articles that support this argument. She is also less likely to question the validity of the information. The woman might read an article about the powerful effects of antioxidants in organic apples, but not question how the study was done. At the same time, she might be dismissive of studies that claim organic foods don’t make much difference in a person’s health. She may tend to only skim through studies that have negative information about it. This is a problem because it can stop her from achieving accurate results in her research.