QQuestionPsychology
QuestionPsychology
Which of the following is an example of confirmation bias?
A. A pharmacologist is studying the effect of certain drugs on humans and tells the test subjects that the drug may cause headaches. Some of the subjects are given the drug, and some are given placebos (sugar pills) instead. Then the number of headaches is counted.
B. An oil company has research done on the effects of drilling on the environment. It is found that in 87% of cases, there is a negative effect. The oil company only publishes the 13% that show a positive effect or no negative effects.
C. A researcher is studying the college readiness of American teens. He interviews 200 urban male teenagers from Philadelphia and finds that 85% say they are ready for college. The researcher concludes that 85% of all teenagers in America are ready for college.
D. A journalist who does not think climate change is real is writing an article about climate change. In his article, he cites one study that discusses how humans cannot be causing climate change and ignores several other studies that discuss how humans can cause climate change.
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Answer
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Step 1I'll solve this problem step by step, focusing on identifying confirmation bias.
Step 2: Understanding Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values. This leads people to: - Selectively seek out information that supports their existing beliefs - Ignore or dismiss evidence that contradicts their preconceptions - Interpret ambiguous evidence as supporting their existing position
Final Answer
B is the best example of confirmation bias.
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