Final answer:
The student's belief that vaccinations can cause autism after viewing stories on the internet demonstrates confirmation bias, which distorts our judgments related to risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's belief that vaccinations can cause autism after viewing stories on the internet demonstrates that confirmation bias can distort our judgments related to risk. Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek and interpret information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs or biases. In this case, the student is selectively seeking and accepting information that supports their belief about the link between vaccinations and autism, while ignoring or dismissing contradicting evidence.
For example, multiple large-scale epidemiological studies have shown that there is no causal connection between vaccinations and autism. The scientific consensus is that vaccines are safe and vital in preventing the spread of serious diseases. However, the student's confirmation bias is preventing them from accepting this evidence and instead relying on anecdotal stories found online.