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Definition:
Confirmation bias occurs when we selectively notice or focus upon evidence which tends
to support the things we already believe or want to be true while ignoring that
evidence which would serve to disconfirm those beliefs or ideas. Confirmation bias
plays a stronger role when it comes to those beliefs which are based upon prejudice,
faith or tradition than on empirical evidence.
For example, if we believe that someone can speak to others' deceased relatives, then we will notice when they say things which are accurate or pleasant, but forget how often that person has said things which are simply incorrect. The confirmation bias is simply a natural aspect of our own, personal biases - and it is because of this that science incorporates the principle of independent confirmation and testing of one's ideas and experiments. It is the hallmark of science that a claim can be supported independent of personal bias, but it is a hallmark of pseudoscience that only true believers will discover the "evidence" which supports their claims.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
Skepticism & Critical Thinking
This is the main index for issues dealing with skepticism, critical thinking, logic and arguments. The first section is Critical Thinking itself - how to think about claims and arguments you hear, how to critique arguments, and how to formulate your own arguments such that they are more likely to be sound and valid. The second section is about Skeptical Investigations - the practical application of the critical thinking skills covered in the first section. Here you will find critiques of things like astrology, alternative medicine, parapsychology, the New Age and more.
