Assignment

For class on Wednesday, Sept. 16:

1) Study the lecture on Confirmation Bias carefully:

2. Read this article: http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/06/23/confirmation-bias/

3. Write a careful, thoughtful answer to these questions:

What is confirmation bias? How does it manifest in our thinking? Why is it an unreliable way to reason? Give an example of someone committing confirmation bias. Explain how the evidence should have been gathered and evaluated in a way that avoided confirmation bias. Give an example of a case where committing confirmation bias could cause significant harm. Explain the measures that someone should take to avoid committing the mistake.

4. Email your answer/essay to Prof. McCormick at mccormick@csus.edu before class time Wednesday. Your answers should be free of spelling, grammar, and structure mistakes. It should conform to the standards of college writing.