Confirmation Bias: Learn to overcome this common cognitive bias

Have you ever wondered why it seems like toast always hits the floor with the buttered side facing down? In this video, I solve the mystery of falling toast by discussing confirmation bias. I go over the four ways that people can experience confirmation bias and offer some tips on how to avoid it.
For resources to improve your understanding of the concepts covered in this video, check out my store on Teachers Pay Teachers at this link:
www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
And the specific link for this video:
www.teacherspayteachers.com/P...
You can also find more resources for teaching and learning science at my website:
www.thesciencelens.com
Thanks so much to the following people whose work helped me make this video:
Information References
“An Overview of Confirmation Bias in Science: Examples and Opportunities for Improvement.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 25 Feb. 2021, cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_re....
“Confirmation Bias.” The Decision Lab, thedecisionlab.com/biases/con....
Haverford College Introductory Psychology Fall 2015. “Science Exposed.” Confirmation Bias | Science Exposed, ds-wordpress.haverford.edu/psy....
Clip Credits
Farrelly, Peter and Bobby Farrelly, directors. Dumb and Dumber. New Line Cinema, 1994.
Music Credits
‘Inspirational Background’
Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay - pixabay.com/users/audiocoffee...
‘Irreducible’
Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - pixabay.com/users/comastudio-...
If you like the intro track, you should consider signing up to Yrii Semchyshyn's Patreon at - / yuriisemchyshyn
Video Background
‘Space’
Video by Tomislav Jakupec from Pixabay - pixabay.com/users/tommyvideo-...
Thumbnail Image
‘Toast, bread, meal, breakfast’
Image by Tobias Heine from Pixabay - pixabay.com/users/miruth_de-1...

[@icame2dance1]

Super good video. One of the best explanations of confirmation bias I've seen.

[@thesciencelens]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.

[@authorjennifertaylor4451]

Thanks for teaching me something new! What a great resource for students, teachers, parents, and....everybody!

[@thesciencelens]

Thanks, Jen! I'm glad you liked it. There will be more to come :)

[@sarahscholtes2654]

I recently read the book "Skeptics Guide to the Universe" which has a description of these biases. I loved this book and your videos have helped to solidify that information through relatable examples and visual cues to help make the information sticky on the old brain. Well done!

[@thesciencelens]

I'll have to check that one out!

[@EmbraceTheStruggle24]

While objective information is important; the way it is interpreted can fit the mold of black and white thinking. Experimenting and operant conditoning are part of how bias is the way it is too; even if it isn't always meant to be conformation bias.

[@thesciencelens]

There's so much to think and learn about when it comes to critical thinking as a pursuit. Thanks for sharing!

[@EmbraceTheStruggle24]

@@thesciencelens yep definitely ^_^ sometimes my own bias can get the better of me like when it comes to codependency, but really it is just trivial a lot of the time - in concern to my folks and peers.

[@EmbraceTheStruggle24]

@@thesciencelens overall though, I believe conformation bias is neither always fundamentally good or bad, as it keeps us aware of our surroundings and events (like the pandemic or even global warming or climate change).

[@adibachowdhury1891]

You deserve more views. Great video.

[@thesciencelens]

Thanks! I appreciate the support.

[@Grace_Piano]

I really found your video helpful and I hope you keep making new videos! I'm learning about logical fallacies and the scientific method at home and I think this is one of the best videos about logical fallacies. I'm going to watch all of your videos. (Also at 5:18 you missed a decimal point.) 😉

[@thesciencelens]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad that you like them. Since you're learning about these sorts of topics I'd love to hear any topic ideas you might be interested in for future episodes. Yeah, unfortunately I didn't notice the missing dot point until after I'd posted :( but there are always little mistakes here and there.

[@adventurousappetite]

I am definitely guilty of this! Great video.

[@thesciencelens]

We all are! It's human nature. But I still love you ;)

[@smagri]

Great video! Love the Dumb & Dumber example.

[@thesciencelens]

Thanks, Scott! Yeah, I was tossing up between that and a scene from The Other Guys. But I think this one worked better :)

[@markthomas7132]

I am full of bias does that mean I am unreasonably biased about my biases? Never ever thought about "confirmation bias". Thanks Luke great vid.

[@thesciencelens]

Thanks for watching, mate! I think being biased about your biases is ok so long as you don't buy into your biases too much. Hope you're going well.

[@georamo]

Super cool. Clear explanations & examples. I could definitely use this with my students. Keep it up! I already subscribed. ;o)

[@thesciencelens]

Thanks, George! I'm glad you think it will be useful. I have a lot more on the way.

[@Akuyaku223]

Tbh i do not feel that i have this problem i just see facts and intake all information to come up with several possibilities, and I guess I act upon all of the possibilities and i do not filter these possibilities by stupid beleives but yes sometimes out of fear I think i do become narrow minded

[@thesciencelens]

Of course. Confirmation bias isn't something that everybody experiences. And if we do it might only be occasionally. But if more people are aware of it, more people will be able to catch themselves when they are experiencing it. Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@user-vo1fu7tm1r]

I want to ask: if someone present a fact or evidence or information that contradicts my beliefs and I examined them and found out that the information does not prove my beliefs wrong or that the information proves to be false and on that basis I refuse and dismiss the "fact" or "information", is it confirmation bias?

[@thesciencelens]

From what you've described I would say no. You've been open to the idea of being contradicted, examined the evidence and found that it's not strong enough to change your mind. To me that's the right way to approach the situation.

[@EastBayE]

You drop a lot of toast. By the way, butter is denser and heavier than toast which should make the butter side indeed more likely to pull downward in gravity than the lighter side….

[@thesciencelens]

Ha. I stand corrected :)

[@EastBayE]

@@thesciencelens Seriously though, thanks for educating people on this important topic👍. Should be seen in every school.