Confirmation Bias
As IB students, you are expected to think critically. But what does this mean exactly? One way is being aware of potential biases we may have when processing information. Sounding a bit like TOK? That's because it is! This listening task comes from the excellent podcast, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. It's a great way to hone your critical thinking - and listening - skills. This task comes from the first five minutes of a 21-minute episode explaining confirmation bias.
These materials can be assigned to students via the Student access function. The multiple choice quesitons will be marked automatically whereas you need to mark the short answer questions yourself.
The transcript can be downloaded here:
Confirmation Bias TranscriptBefore you listen, work through this Quizlet flashcard set that contains some of the key vocabulary from the audio text. Don't automatically look up the translation in your own language. Can you figure out the meaning based on the definition provided? Why not add any new or interesting words to your vocabulary notebook? Noticing and recording new language is a great way to expand your vocabulary.
Before Listening
Read the questions and identify key words. Can you predict any words you might hear during the text? You can use this time in the exam (four minutes!) to predict what they might talk about based on your existing knowledge of the topic. Why not write down a few ideas on a piece of paper before you listen?
Part 1: Multiple choice questions
Choose the best option from the three available.
1. Despite having heard of confirmation bias, most people…
Host: Steve, a lot of people have heard the term confirmation bias, and I bet a lot of them don’t actually have a deep understanding of what it means. So, to kick things off—what the hell is confirmation bias?
2. Confirmation bias isn’t only about what we believe; it’s also about…
Host: So it’s not just about beliefs, but also desires?
3. A real world example of confirmation bias is when…
But I might scroll right past things that contradict me without a second thought.
4. As well as identifying information that supports what we already believe, we tend to…
One: we notice and register information that fits our existing narrative more than information that doesn’t. Two: we remember that confirming information because it feels meaningful—it supports what we "already knew," so it becomes a keeper.
5. When we find information that is disconfirming, there is a chance that we…
But when we come across something disconfirming, we tend to do one of several things—we might miss it entirely, because it doesn’t register as important, or we might dismiss it.
Part 2: Short answer questions
Write a word or short phrase from the text as you hear it. You can paraphrase but you're in danger of getting it wrong!
6. What is one excuse we might give for explaining away a person’s argument that doesn’t fit our narrative?
7. What word does Steve (blue shirt) offer as an alternative to the idea that our brains are like hardware or software?
9. Which three-word phrase is used to describe the large amount of evidence we think supports our beliefs?
10. What does Steve say can act as a filter to prevent us from being affected by confirmation bias?
TOK-Style Questions
| TOK Concept | Discussion Question |
| Evidence | How does confirmation bias affect the kind of evidence we consider reliable or worth paying attention to? |
| Perspective | To what extent does confirmation bias limit our ability to understand perspectives different from our own? |
| Objectivity | Is true objectivity possible if all knowers are influenced by confirmation bias, even unconsciously? |
| Justification | If a belief is supported by biased reasoning, can it still be considered justified knowledge? |
| Responsibility | Do we have a responsibility as knowers to identify and challenge our own biases when forming or sharing knowledge? |