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.
9 months agoReport content
Answer
Full Solution Locked
Sign in to view the complete step-by-step solution and unlock all study resources.
Step 1:I'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
Step 3:: Analyzing the Options
Let's examine each option carefully: A. This is NOT confirmation bias. This is a controlled scientific experiment with placebos, designed to objectively test drug effects. B. This IS confirmation bias. The oil company is selectively reporting only the results that support their desired narrative, deliberately hiding evidence that contradicts their preferred outcome. C. This is a sampling bias, not confirmation bias. The researcher has used a limited, non-representative sample to draw a broad conclusion. D. This IS confirmation bias. The journalist is deliberately choosing only one study that supports his pre-existing belief about climate change while intentionally ignoring multiple other studies.
Final Answer
B is the best example of confirmation bias.
Need Help with Homework?
Stuck on a difficult problem? We've got you covered:
- Post your question or upload an image
- Get instant step-by-step solutions
- Learn from our AI and community of students