Pitfalls of Thinking: Confirmation Bias (1/2)
Channel: C0nc0rdance
Date: 30/10/2009

Confirmation bias is a tendency to search for, interpret or remember information in a way that confirms preconceptions or working hypotheses. People can reinforce their existing attitudes by selectively collecting new evidence, by interpreting evidence in a biased way or by selectively recalling information from memory. Some psychologists use "confirmation bias" for any of these three cognitive biases, while others restrict the term to selective collection of evidence, using assimilation bias for biased interpretation.

I explore the use of confirmation bias in three areas:
1.  Alternative health practices
2.  Intelligent design creationism
3.  HIV/AIDS denialism