Catherine Owens

Confirmation Bias is  is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, while giving disproportionately less consideration to alternative possibilities. This is a bias we all have regardless of how smart we may think we are.

The best way to avoid confirmation bias is to consider alternative possibilities and to actively seek information that would falsify or disconfirm statements we think are true. This is often a difficult and uncomfortable thing to do, but as philosophers we're committed to discovering the truth and confirmation bias seriously hampers our efforts at doing so.

The purpose of this assignment is to:

• Recognize how easy it is to be hampered by confirmation bias
• Recognize confirmation bias as a serious threat to our ability to maximize the number of true beliefs we have.

Assignment Instructions:

1. Read David McRaney's article "Confirmation Bias."

2. Go to this website (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and try to solve the puzzle. Try at least one sequence of numbers and write down what sequences you tried in determining the answer to the puzzle.

3. Click the "I think I know it button" on the website and read the article.

4. Describe your results. Did you get it right? What sequences did you try? What does this exercise tell you about confirmation bias? Write at least one developed paragraph (about 100 words) in your response. Remember to use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

ALSO THE PARAGRAPH MUST FOLLOWING EXACTLY:

1) Thoroughly addresses all parts of the question

2) Substantive. Answered the question in depth.

3) Extremely well organized, clear and concise throughout.

4) Mechanics reflect careful editing

5) NO plagiarism (it will be on turnitin), no MLA source

PLEASE FOLLOWING ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND DO NOT MISSING ANYTHING. THANK YOU