confirmation bias

noun

confirmation bias

noun
1

Human sciences, Psychology, Sciences Usually A cognitive bias towards confirmation of the hypothesis under study; a psychological tendency to look for and accept information which supports one's values and worldview and reject that which conflicts with it.

  • Days after this interview, on 12 February this year, fighting broke out between US troops and pro-Assad forces just outside Qamishli. Confirmation bias is rarely so fast, or so unnervingly accurate.2020 February 26, Will Dunn, “William Gibson on the apocalypse: “it’s been happening for at least 100 years””, in New Statesman:
  • That overcorrection might nurture confirmation bias, an inclination to look for evidence that validates one's fears while ignoring any signs to the contrary.2025 December 20, Hanna Notte, “Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy over Russia threat”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 7:
Related terms
data dredging, filter bubble, selection bias

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.