Confirmation Bias, 2

A confirmation bias can be defined as a tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior belief or value. The more fervent one’s belief, the likelihood of a more fervent confirmation bias. Nickerson, Raymond S Nickerson has referred to it as “A ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises.” Confirmation bias can distort evidence and, consequently, impact evidence-based decision-making. How is this displayed? Individuals gather and/or recall information selectively, or interpret information in a biased way, or ignore any information or evidence that does not support their strongly-held beliefs. This can include scientific evidence (e.g., the world is round and not flat, Planet earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around). They may also interpret what they believe to be ambiguous evidence as supporting their beliefs. Depending on the individual, he or she can become defensive, argumentative, irate, or even destroy property or other attempt to injury or do bodily harm to persons who disagree with or challenge the individual's belief. More tomorow.