Changes

'''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.

'''Confirmation bias''' is the tendency to accept evidence confirming what one already feels justified in believing while ignoring, downplaying, or even rejecting evidence that might tend to contradict one's beliefs.

The best scientists work extra hard to overcome this psychological tendency, while advertisers, partisans and many journalists exploit it.  

The best scientists consciously strive to overcome this psychological tendency, while advertisers, partisans and many journalists try exploit it.  

[[Ronald Bailey]] wrote:

[[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]

*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 opposite of [[bias]] and [[prejudice]] is objectivity and even [[skepticism]]. Scientists who are open minded avidly seek out data which might potentially contradict their theories - or at least the theories of their colleagues. Ideally, if collected data contradict a prediction made by any theory, then the theory must be reevaluated or even discarded.

Confirmation bias sabotages scientific objectivity by discarding or ignoring data which challenges the prevailing consensus. This often leads to the situation in which an entire generation of scientists must grow old and die before the next generation comes up which is willing to examine newly discovered ideas; see [[Paradigm shift]].

Confirmation bias sabotages scientific objectivity by discarding or ignoring data which challenges the prevailing consensus. This often leads to the situation in which an entire generation of scientists must grow old and die before the next generation comes up which is willing to examine newly discovered ideas; see [[Paradigm shift]].  It is unfortunate that advocates of [[global warming]] and [[evolution]] fall prey to confirmation bias, or even willfully allow it to cloud their judgment.

See:

==See also==

*[[scientific method]]

*[[scientific method]]

 

[[category:psychology]]

[[category:psychology]]