Confirmation Bias: A Ubiquitous Phenomenon in Many Guises

Confirmation bias, as the term is typically used in the psychological literature, connotes<br>the seeking or interpreting of evidence in ways that are partial to existing beliefs,<br>expectations, or a hypothesis in hand. The author reviews evidence of such a bias in a<br>variety of guises and gives examples of its operation in several practical contexts.<br>Possible explanations are considered, and the question of its utility or disutility is<br>discussed.