Cognitive Bias & Information Practices

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

COGNITIVE BIAS & information practices Psychologists define cognitive biases as common, systematic human errors in judgment and decision-making that may be caused by motivational factors, adaptations to an environment, and/or other cognitive limitations. Isn't bias a bad thing? It depends! Some argue that cognitive bias can be a human design feature, not just a flaw. Think about how you make decisions and solve problems. Your process likely involves cognitive "short cuts," such as relying on your own prior knowledge, experiences, or beliefs and seeking advice or information from convenient, believable sources. However, an important question to ask is, does this bias cause harm to others? What other processes are involved in how you find, process, and use new information? Researchers have documented and defined lots of different types of cognitive bias, but here are a few that can help you better understand your own information practices. CONFIRMATION BIAS The tendency to selectively search for or interpret information in a way that confirms your previously held beliefs or hypotheses. Example: Only using sources in a research assignment that confirm or support your argument. information your beliefs what you value AVAILABILITY BIAS The tendency to rely on the first example that comes to mind or the most recent/readily available information. Example: Clicking on the first link in a list of search results that seems relevant to what you need. what you find and use all possible information AUTHORITY BIAS The tendency to attribute greater accuracy to or be more easily persuaded by the opinions of "authoritative" figures. Example: Buying a "doctor recommended" toothpaste brand. References: Wilke, A., & Mata, R. (2012). Cognitive bias. Encyclopedia of Human Behavior (2nd ed.). Haselton, M. G., Nettle, D., & Andrews, P. W. (2015). The evolution of cognitive bias. The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology. .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

1 Session 17
42nd Annual National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys Nashville, Tennessee May 5-8, 2019 Outline & Materials Session 17 - Bridge Over Troubled Water: The Arch of Ethics It is easy to fall into ethically-troubled waters. Here, a series of lively skits will show us some of the daily challenges facing attorneys who practice before the fictitious Nirvana Public Utility Commission. The situations portrayed leave us to question: Will these lawyers slip into the muddy waters or steady themselves by clinging to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct? Legal Instruction: Richard Collier, Esq. Skit Production: Eve Moran, Esq. _________________________________________________________________________ Skit I - Things Are Jumping At The Bluebird Bar & Grill Resources: Ex Parte Statutes - Tennessee (Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-5-304) Model Rule 3.5 A lawyer shall not: (a) seek to influence a judge, juror, prospective juror or other official by means prohibited by law; (b) communicate ex parte with such a person during the proceeding unless authorized to do so by law or court order; (c) communicate with a juror or prospective juror after discharge of the jury if: (1) the communication is prohibited by law or court order; (2) the juror has made known to the lawyer a desire not to communicate; or (3) the communication involves misrepresentation, coercion, duress or harassment; or (d) engage in conduct intended to disrupt a tribunal. Model Rule 8.4 It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: (a) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct,
[Show full text]
The Art of Thinking Clearly
For Sabine The Art of Thinking Clearly Rolf Dobelli www.sceptrebooks.co.uk First published in Great Britain in 2013 by Sceptre An imprint of Hodder & Stoughton An Hachette UK company 1 Copyright © Rolf Dobelli 2013 The right of Rolf Dobelli to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library. eBook ISBN 978 1 444 75955 6 Hardback ISBN 978 1 444 75954 9 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd 338 Euston Road London NW1 3BH www.sceptrebooks.co.uk CONTENTS Introduction 1 WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT CEMETERIES: Survivorship Bias 2 DOES HARVARD MAKE YOU SMARTER?: Swimmer’s Body Illusion 3 WHY YOU SEE SHAPES IN THE CLOUDS: Clustering Illusion 4 IF 50 MILLION PEOPLE SAY SOMETHING FOOLISH, IT IS STILL FOOLISH: Social Proof 5 WHY YOU SHOULD FORGET THE PAST: Sunk Cost Fallacy 6 DON’T ACCEPT FREE DRINKS: Reciprocity 7 BEWARE THE ‘SPECIAL CASE’: Confirmation Bias (Part 1) 8 MURDER YOUR DARLINGS: Confirmation Bias (Part 2) 9 DON’T BOW TO AUTHORITY: Authority Bias 10 LEAVE YOUR SUPERMODEL FRIENDS AT HOME: Contrast Effect 11 WHY WE PREFER A WRONG MAP TO NO
[Show full text]
Retention and Transfer of Cognitive Bias Mitigation Interventions: a Systematic Literature Study
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW published: 12 August 2021 doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.629354 Retention and Transfer of Cognitive Bias Mitigation Interventions: A Systematic Literature Study J.E. (Hans) Korteling, Jasmin Y. J. Gerritsma and Alexander Toet* Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientiﬁc Research (TNO) Human Factors, Soesterberg, Netherlands Cognitive biases can adversely affect human judgment and decision making and should therefore preferably be mitigated, so that we can achieve our goals as effectively as possible. Hence, numerous bias mitigation interventions have been developed and evaluated. However, to be effective in practical situations beyond laboratory conditions, the bias mitigation effects of these interventions should be retained over time and should transfer across contexts. This systematic review provides an overview of the literature on retention and transfer of bias mitigation interventions. A systematic search yielded 52 studies that were eligible for screening. At the end of the selection process, only 12 peer-reviewed studies remained that adequately studied retention over a period of at least 14 days (all 12 studies) or transfer to different tasks and contexts (one study). Edited by: Eleven of the relevant studies investigated the effects of bias mitigation training using Rick Thomas, Georgia Institute of Technology, game- or video-based interventions. These 11 studies showed considerable overlap United States regarding the biases studied, kinds of interventions, and decision-making domains. Most Reviewed by: of them indicated that gaming interventions were effective after the retention interval and Elizabeth Veinott, that games were more effective than video interventions. The study that investigated Michigan Technological University, United States transfer of bias mitigation training (next to retention) found indications of transfer across Dan Diaper, contexts.
[Show full text]
Infographic I.10
The Digital Health Revolution: Leaving No One Behind The global AI in healthcare market is growing fast, with an expected increase from $4.9 billion in 2020 to $45.2 billion by 2026. There are new solutions introduced every day that address all areas: from clinical care and diagnosis, to remote patient monitoring to EHR support, and beyond. But, AI is still relatively new to the industry, and it can be difﬁcult to determine which solutions can actually make a difference in care delivery and business operations. 59 Jan 2021 % of Americans believe returning Jan-June 2019 to pre-coronavirus life poses a risk to health and well being. 11 41 % % ...expect it will take at least 6 The pandemic has greatly increased the 65 months before things get number of US adults reporting depression % back to normal (updated April and/or anxiety.5 2021).4 Up to of consumers now interested in telehealth going forward. $250B 76 57% of providers view telehealth more of current US healthcare spend % favorably than they did before COVID-19.7 could potentially be virtualized.6 The dramatic increase in of Medicare primary care visits the conducted through 90% $3.5T telehealth has shown longevity, with rates in annual U.S. health expenditures are for people with chronic and mental health conditions. since April 2020 0.1 43.5 leveling off % % Most of these can be prevented by simple around 30%.8 lifestyle changes and regular health screenings9 Feb. 2020 Apr. 2020 OCCAM’S RAZOR • CONJUNCTION FALLACY • DELMORE EFFECT • LAW OF TRIVIALITY • COGNITIVE FLUENCY • BELIEF BIAS • INFORMATION BIAS Digital health ecosystems are transforming• AMBIGUITY BIAS • STATUS medicineQUO BIAS • SOCIAL COMPARISONfrom BIASa rea• DECOYctive EFFECT • REACTANCEdiscipline, • REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY • SYSTEM JUSTIFICATION • BACKFIRE EFFECT • ENDOWMENT EFFECT • PROCESSING DIFFICULTY EFFECT • PSEUDOCERTAINTY EFFECT • DISPOSITION becoming precise, preventive,EFFECT • ZERO-RISK personalized, BIAS • UNIT BIAS • IKEA EFFECT and • LOSS AVERSION participatory.
[Show full text]
Behavioural Economics for Investors
Behavioural economics for investors Guide CNMV Guide 1 Behavioural economics for investors Table of contents 3 5 Introduction Concept and basic foundations of behavioural economics 7 16 The decision-making process Phases of investment decision making 19 21 Mitigation of cognitive biases Mitigation strategies for that affect the investment cognitive biases decision process 31 Final recommendations CNMV Guide 2 Behavioural economics for investors Behavioural economics for investors I. Introduction Since the beginning, traditional economic theory has addressed the way in which people make their investment, saving and spending decisions. It is also based on the assumptions that people know what they want, use the available information to achieve their objectives and fully understand the risks and rewards of their financial decisions. In recent years, however, numerous discoveries from disciplines such as psychology, neurology or neurophysiology about how the human brain works have revealed that this is not the case. People often do not know what their preferences are, misuse available information and do not adequately understand the risks they take on. Behavioural economics studies real human behaviours in a real world to develop more precise and practical economic models than those provided by conventional economic theory. Behavioural economics takes into account those subtle and not-so-subtle factors that underlie financial decisions. CNMV Guide 3 Behavioural economics for investors This discipline is an attempt to analyse the patterns and biases of people’s behaviour and use these as a base to predict behaviour models. Research conducted in the field of behavioural economics shows that most of these patterns or biases are predictable.
[Show full text]
Cognitive Biases Cognitive Biases and Heuristics Are Mental Shortcuts That Aid in Processing of Information, but Can Lead to Suboptimal Decisions
Cognitive Biases Cognitive biases and heuristics are mental shortcuts that aid in processing of information, but can lead to suboptimal decisions. List of Biases and Heuristics Bias/Effect Description Business Problem Category Advice Ambiguity bias Preference for known Need to We favor options that appear simple risks over unknown risks Act Fast or that have more complete information over more complex, ambiguous options. Anchoring Overreliance on initial Think of each Too Much We notice when something has information piece of Information changed. information as independently as possible, then review them collectively Anecdotal fallacy Overvaluing personal Not We find stories and patterns even in experience when Enough sparse data. compared to data Meaning Anthropomorphism Mistakenly imbuing things Not We find stories and patterns even in with human traits Enough sparse data. Meaning Appeal to novelty Belief that something new Need to In order to stay focused, we favor the is inherently superior to Act Fast immediate, relatable thing in front of status quo us over the delayed and distant. Appeal to probability Mistaking probability for Even the best Not We simplify probabilities and fallacy certainty laid plans can Enough numbers to make them easier to think fail, even when Meaning about. they are more likely than not to succeed Argument from Mistaken belief that a Some Not We fill in characteristics from fallacy fallacious argument arguments are Enough stereotypes, generalities, and prior implies that the better than Meaning histories
[Show full text]
Decoding Decisions Making Sense of the Messy Middle Authors
Decoding Decisions Making sense of the messy middle Authors Alistair Rennie Research Lead, Market Insights UK, Google Ali began his career researching ad effectiveness in agency before moving client-side to build and lead a team with an expanding remit ranging from marketing and proposition development to innovation and business strategy. Over the past 20 years he has developed a highly strategic approach to insight development which he now uses to explore consumer behaviour and decision-making at Google, where he is a regular speaker on these topics. Jonny Protheroe Head of Market Insights UK, Google Jonny leads Google’s insights team in the UK. Prior to his 10 years of marketing research at Google, he plied his trade in the media agency world. He is a regular speaker on evolving consumer behaviour, cross- media measurement, and marketing effectiveness. He represents Google in a range of forums in the UK marketing and research industries. Claire Charron Product Manager, Google Claire began her career on the agency side at 360i and relocated to London five years ago to head up the insights team at 360i’s new European outpost. Upon joining Google, Claire specialised in emerging and innovative research methodologies, from neuro and physiological response research to trend identification through text analytics. In 2017, she was named one of Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35. She is now working as a Product Manager in Google’s workshop for experimental products. Gerald Breatnach Head of Strategic Insights UK, Google Gerald’s team works with UK clients, bringing together Google data analysis and research to help address their challenges.
[Show full text]
Retention and Transfer of Cognitive Bias Mitigation Interventions: a Systematic Literature Study
Retention and Transfer of Cognitive Bias Mitigation Interventions: A Systematic Literature Study J.E. (Hans) Korteling1, Jasmin Y.J. Gerritsma1, and Alexander Toet*1 1 TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg, Netherlands * Correspondence: Alexander Toet E: [email protected] Word count: 6428 1 2 Abstract 3 Cognitive biases can adversely affect human judgement and decision making and should therefore 4 preferably be mitigated, so that we can achieve our goals as effectively as possible. Hence, numerous bias 5 mitigation interventions have been developed and evaluated. However, to be effective in practical 6 situations beyond laboratory conditions, the bias mitigation effects of these interventions should be 7 retained over time and should transfer across contexts. This systematic review provides an overview of the 8 literature on retention and transfer of bias mitigation interventions. A systematic search yielded 41 studies 9 that were eligible for screening. At the end of the selection process, only seven studies remained that 10 adequately studied retention over a period of at least 14 days (six studies) or transfer to different tasks and 11 contexts (two studies). Retention of bias mitigation was found up to 12 months after the interventions. 12 Most of the relevant studies investigated the effects of bias mitigation training with specific serious games. 13 Only two studies (the second one being a replication of the first) found evidence for a transfer effect of bias 14 mitigation training across contexts. Our main conclusion is that there is currently insufficient evidence for 15 the retention and transfer of bias mitigation effects to consider the associated interventions as useful tools 16 that can help people to make better decisions in daily life.
[Show full text]
Cognitive Biases in Fitness to Practise Decision-Making
ADVICE ON BIASES IN FITNESS TO PRACTISE DECISION-MAKING IN ACCEPTED OUTCOME VERSUS PANEL MODELS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AUTHORITY Prepared by: LESLIE CUTHBERT Date: 31 March 2021 Contents I. Introduction ................................................................................................. 2 Background .................................................................................................. 2 Purpose of the advice.................................................................................... 3 Summary of conclusions ................................................................................ 4 Documents considered .................................................................................. 4 Technical terms and explanations ................................................................... 5 Disclaimer .................................................................................................... 5 II. How biases might affect the quality of decision-making in the AO model, as compared to the panel model .............................................................................. 6 Understanding cognitive biases in fitness to practise decision-making ............... 6 Individual Decision Maker (e.g. a Case Examiner) in AO model ......................... 8 Multiple Case Examiners .............................................................................. 17 Group Decision Maker in a Panel model of 3 or more members ....................... 22 III. Assessment of the impact of these biases,
[Show full text]
Analysis of Nazi Propaganda a Behavioral Study
Analysis of Nazi Propaganda A Behavioral Study Karthik Narayanaswami HIST E 1572: Holocaust in History, Literature, and Film Harvard University [email protected] I. INTRODUCTION As we examine the chronology of events leading up to the B. Categories of Cognitive Biases Holocaust, it becomes vital to understand the role of While there are several sources of cognitive biases, in this propaganda in perpetuating a crime of this proportion. To this paper, we are interested in three broad categories of biases, end, this paper will analyze the fundamental tenets of Nazi namely [1] – propaganda, and the role that they played in not just the genocide of Jews, Romani peoples, homosexuals, and other Social & Attributional Biases: These are biases that undesirables, but also in helping turn Germany into an affect our social perception and the means through aggressor nation. which we determine who or what was responsible for a particular action or situation. We will look at the calculated methodology adopted by the Nazi party under the guidance of both Adolf Hitler and Joseph Memory Biases: These are biases that can either Göbbels, and analyze the underlying techniques that were used. enhance or impair the recollection of a memory, either However, while the breadth and scope of Nazi propaganda near-term or long-term. were quite exhaustive, and included posters, movies, radio, and the press, this paper will focus on the primary method of Decision-Making Biases: These are biases that impair rallying the German people – the creative use of posters to our ability to make rational decisions despite evidence serve malignant ends.
[Show full text]
Social Bias Cheat Sheet.Pages
COGNITIVE & SOCIAL BIAS CHEAT SHEET Four problems that biases help us address: Problem 1: Too much information. There is just too much information in the world, we have no choice but to filter almost all of it out. Our brain uses a few simple tricks to pick out the bits of information that are most likely going to be useful in some way. We notice flaws in others more easily than flaws in ourselves. Yes, before you see this entire article as a list of quirks that compromise how other people think, realize that you are also subject to these biases. See: Bias blind spot, Naïve cynicism, Naïve realism CONSEQUENCE: We don’t see everything. Problem 2: Not enough meaning. The world is very confusing, and we end up only seeing a tiny sliver of it, but we need to make some sense of it in order to survive. Once the reduced stream of information comes in, we connect the dots, fill in the gaps with stuff we already think we know, and update our mental models of the world. We fill in characteristics from stereotypes, generalities, and prior histories whenever there are new specific instances or gaps in information. When we have partial information about a specific thing that belongs to a group of things we are pretty familiar with, our brain has no problem filling in the gaps with best guesses or what other trusted sources provide. Conveniently, we then forget which parts were real and which were filled in. See: Group attribution error, Ultimate attribution error, Stereotyping, Essentialism, Functional fixedness, Moral credential effect, Just-world hypothesis, Argument from fallacy, Authority bias, Automation bias, Bandwagon effect, Placebo effect We imagine things and people we’re familiar with or fond of as better than things and people we aren’t familiar with or fond of.
[Show full text]
The Biases 4
How Brands are Leveraging Behavioural Biases in PPC Ad Copy An analysis of the mortgage market CONTENTS Introduction to Behavioural Economics 2 Bringing Behavioural Biases into Digital Marketing 3 The Biases 4 Our Methodology 6 Our Findings 7 Implications 14 Next Steps 15 Contributors 16 How Mortgage Brands are Leveraging Behavioural Biases in PPC Ad Copy 2 Introduction to Behavioural Economics In 2002 when Daniel Kahneman basis provided by Kahneman and his became the first psychologist to research partner Amos Tversky by win the Nobel prize for Economics thinkers such as Richard Thaler and it represented a shift in the way Cass Sunstein who co-wrote ‘Nudge’, that Economists viewed consumer the best seller which helped push the decision making, away from the rigid field into the mainstream. view that consumers make choices guided by strictly logical factors, Marketing thought leaders such as and towards the more nuanced view Rory Sutherland, Richard Shotton, that decisions are influenced by and Phil Barden have led the a number of ‘behavioural biases’; charge in sharing how Behavioural cognitive shortcuts that take the hard Economics not only provides work out of decision-making whilst explanations for many of the ideas making it somewhat irrational. that marketers had always held to be true, but also how it can inspire Since then the field of Behavioural new strategies to drive growth for Economics has been built on the brands. How Mortgage Brands are Leveraging Behavioural Biases in PPC Ad Copy 3 Bringing Behavioural Biases into We’ve chosen mortgages in this case Digital Marketing for two key reasons The speed, scale and flexibility offered by Digital At01 ROAST we’ve been building and executing Marketing make it the perfect sandbox in which to PPC strategies for financial services brands test Behavioural Biases , with Pay-per-click (PPC) for over five years, so we’re experts in this The speed, scale and advertising being an excellent candidate for quick area.
[Show full text]