Question

You need to write a research paper on a behavioral science experiment for one of your classes. While you are doing your research, you only look for articles and facts that prove your hypothesis, or represent what you already believe to be true about the topic. The heuristic you are abiding by is:

a.) Confirmation bias
b.) Availability heuristic
c.) Representativeness heuristic
d.) Utilitarianism

Answer 1

The use of confirmation bias in researching for a behavioral science experiment leads to focusing on information that confirms existing beliefs, negatively affecting objectivity and completeness of the research.

Step-by-step explanation:

When conducting research for a paper and only seeking out resources that confirm your existing beliefs or hypothesis, this behavior is described by confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is a cognitive error that involves focusing on information that validates your preconceptions and disregarding evidence that contradicts them. This bias can significantly impact the objectivity of your research in behavioral science, leading to skewed results and a lack of comprehensive understanding of the topic. Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to focus on information that confirms your existing beliefs. In this case, you are only looking for articles and facts that prove your hypothesis or align with what you already believe to be true about the topic. It is important to be aware of confirmation bias and strive for objectivity in research to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the subject.