Jim Clark wrote: >Both liberals and conservatives are capable of such actions,
It's been a long time since I've subscribed to TIPS. But I kinda' missed everyone here, so I decided recently to re-subscribe. Jim Clark's claim quoted above is what one would expect based on the ubiquity of the confirmation bias, and I think that good examples for teaching purposes can easily be found in the current U.S. political situation. I have used several such examples in my intro-psych classes. Of course, disconfirming information CAN be important; otherwise none of us would ever alter our beliefs. And some circumstances may reduce the strength of the bias. For example, the research article cited below might be a good example of it (I haven't read it yet, so I can't vouch for it). Best, Jeff ============== Communication Research, 2011 Online at: http://crx.sagepub.com/content/early/recent Preelection Selective Exposure: Confirmation Bias Versus Informational Utility Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick knobloch-westerwic...@osu.edu Ohio State University Steven B. Kleinman Ohio State University Abstract The glut of media coverage prior to a presidential election requires individuals to selectively expose themselves to some messages and not others. The study involves a two-session online quasi-experiment with 205 participants that was conducted before the 2008 presidential election. Hypotheses on confirmation bias and information utility driving selective exposure prior to an election are tested. Results confirm that information utility can override a confirmation bias and motivate exposure if a government change is likely and the favored party is likely to lose the election. Moreover, participants with frequent habitual online news use do not exhibit a confirmation bias. However, participants whose favored party was likely to win the election and participants with infrequent online news consumption show a significant confirmation bias. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeffry Ricker, Ph.D. SCC: Professor of Psychology MCCCD: General Studies Faculty Representative --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scottsdale Community College 9000 E. Chaparral Road Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626 Office: SB-123 Phone: (480) 423-6213 Fax: (480) 423-6298 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=10338 or send a blank email to leave-10338-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
