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Articles on Confirmation bias

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Google Maps is ubiquitous. Changing place names — like the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of American — under political pressure and without user consent is dangerous. (Priscilla du Preez/Unsplash)

Is Google Maps brainwashing us? It might be if the theory of ‘extended cognition’ is correct

When compared to how common it is for the Google search engine to boost misinformation, changing the name of a body of water might not seem like a big deal. It is.
A Canadian supporter of Donald Trump waves an American flag from an overpass in Montréal in November 2020, two days after the presidential election that Joe Biden ultimately won. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Why some Canadians are in denial about Donald Trump

Who are the 10 per cent of Canadians who support Trump and his annexation threats? They are likely people afflicted with cognitive biases that prevent them from accurately assessing risk.
Protesters fill the Iowa state Capitol to denounce a bill that will strip the state civil rights code of protections based on gender identity. AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

The psychology behind anti-trans legislation: How cognitive biases shape thoughts and policy

Two social psychologists explain the ways unconscious biases influence how people think and can fuel discrimination against transgender people and other minority groups.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, meets with his security cabinet on Oct. 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas attack. Haim Zach (GPO) / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

How new reports reveal Israeli intelligence underestimated Hamas and other key weaknesses

Recent media coverage mostly confirms the role of faulty threat assessments, Hamas’ improved operational security, and confirmation bias.
Preclinical research — the kind that takes place before testing on humans — often guides decisions about which potential treatments should continue to clinical trials. But attempts to replicate 50 studies found the odds of getting the same results were only about 50-50. (Pexels/Artem Podrez)

Major study shows the need to improve how scientists approach early-stage cancer research

Preclinical studies are an important part of biomedical research, often guiding future trials in humans. Failure to replicate research results suggests a need to increase the quality of studies.
Vaccine hesitancy has been a growing challenge for more than a decade. Concerns about vaccine safety and adverse events are the most commonly cited reasons. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) 

How cognitive biases and adverse events influence vaccine decisions (maybe even your own)

To help increase trust in vaccines, researchers analyzed data on adverse events to address safety concerns, and then used cognitive science to show how cognitive biases feed vaccine hesitancy.
If what you’re reading seems too good to be true, it just might be. Mark Hang Fung So/Unsplash

6 tips to help you detect fake science news

Whenever you hear about a new bit of science news, these suggestions will help you assess whether it’s more fact or fiction.
These psychological tendencies explain why an onslaught of facts won’t necessarily change anyone’s mind. Francesco Carta fotografo/Moment via Getty Images

Your brain’s built-in biases insulate your beliefs from contradictory facts

Cognitive shortcuts help you efficiently move through a complicated world. But they come with an unwelcome side effect: Facts aren’t necessarily enough to change your mind.

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