Evaluation bias in media supported scenarios
Working group | Knowledge Exchange Lab |
Duration | 01/2015 - 03/2019 |
Funding | IWM budget resources |
Project description
Most people need to solve complex problems and face difficult decisions on a daily basis. However, people often fail to come to unbiased conclusions because cognitive distortions influence their information processing. In this project we focused on the formation of such a cognitive bias and on ways to counteract it.
We investigate the evaluation bias, which reflects the human tendency to evaluate and interpret information in a biased way. Already existing knowledge and preferences influence how people perceive new information. People judge preference-consistent information to be more positive and important than preference-inconsistent information. This can be detrimental when the solution of a problem is preference-inconsistent or a balanced evaluation of information is important, for example in decision making and judgment tasks.
The distorted evaluation is credited to a different amount of cognitive resources applied to information processing. Studies within this project investigate the formation of the evaluation bias, the underlying cognitive processes and how media support can facilitate a more balanced evaluation of information for individuals and small groups.
Cooperations
Ann-Katrin Wesslein, University of Tübingen