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the tendency to accept reports which confirm what you already "know"
'''Confirmation bias''' is the tendency to accept reports which confirm what you already "know", i.e., what you already feel justified in believing - while rejecting reports which contradict your beliefs.
The best scientists work extra hard to overcome this psychological tendency, while advertisers, partisans and many journalists exploit it.
[[Ronald Bailey]] wrote:
*Once a particular notion becomes conventional wisdom, evidence and stories confirming that conventional wisdom are easily accepted and published—and reported in the media. Those that contradict the prevailing views have a much harder time getting a hearing. [http://www.reason.com/news/show/34939.html]
The opposite of bias and prejudice is being objective and even skeptical. Scientists who are open minded avidly seek data which contradict their theories - or at least the theories of their colleagues. The predominant idea in science is that if collected data contradict a prediction made by any theory, then the theory must be reevaluated or even discarded.
The best scientists work extra hard to overcome this psychological tendency, while advertisers, partisans and many journalists exploit it.
[[Ronald Bailey]] wrote:
*Once a particular notion becomes conventional wisdom, evidence and stories confirming that conventional wisdom are easily accepted and published—and reported in the media. Those that contradict the prevailing views have a much harder time getting a hearing. [http://www.reason.com/news/show/34939.html]
The opposite of bias and prejudice is being objective and even skeptical. Scientists who are open minded avidly seek data which contradict their theories - or at least the theories of their colleagues. The predominant idea in science is that if collected data contradict a prediction made by any theory, then the theory must be reevaluated or even discarded.