Biases occur in our
search for and interpretation of information,
as well as our
memory of it.
The search
for information bias is
particularly common
(and crucial)
in the science
and business
sector.
By
looking
for
the information we want
and designing questions biased
towards the answer
we favour all manner
of problems can be
caused. Scientists, psychologists, researchers
and anybody else who
is looking to prove their
point (and theirs alone)
gravitate towards testing a hypothesis in a
biased way, searching for evidence that
proves rather than dis- the countryside there
proves the hypothesis. is a greater need for
This hypothesis can be 4x4’s and thereby the
researchers
are
biasing
their search
for information. A preference for a
positive test
can also be
evidenced in
hypothesis,
as a positive question
favours a positive answer.
More
peoworded in a specific way ple are likely to give
that searches for only a positive answer to
the positive or nega- the question ‘Are you
tive evidence that they happy with your child’s
require. A simple exam- education?’ than ‘Are
ple of this would be you unhappy with your
someone who wants to child’s education?’. This
investigate if 4x4’s are bias for positive quesmore popular than cars tioning often simplifies
by going to the country- complex issues.
side to tally the number of cars and 4x4’s
they see. Obviously, in
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