[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
What is more real a confirmation bias or a scientific hypothesis?
Here is a question that asks us to compare apples to SUVs.
We see the real and very detrimental effects of our students' confirmation
biases in their persistent beliefs in astrology, palm reading and the like. I
do my best to encourage them NOT to trust their own observations, but after
awhile I have to say, hey, it's their money.
And that is perpetuated by instructors who encourage them to think what ever
they like as long as it appears that there own observations support it, and
not to question to consider the possibility that their own observations are
flawed and distorted by wishful thinking etc.
I am not sure what you mean by "how real is a scientific hypothesis is" but
of course the quality of the scientific thinking is dictated by how willing
we are to check our own biases.
But I get the feeling, Michael that you are telling your students that
whatever they believe and they see and hear is just OK and must be the truth.
So I don't know why I am even bothering to respond.
Nancy Melucci
ELAC
