Humans actively sample evidence to support prior beliefs.

ABSTRACT: No one likes to be wrong. Previous research has shown that participants may underweight information incompatible with previous choices, a phenomenon called confirmation bias. In this paper, we argue that a similar bias exists in the way information is actively sought. We investigate how choice influences information gathering using a perceptual choice task and find that participants sample more information from a previously chosen alternative. Furthermore, the higher the confidence in the initial choice, the more biased information sampling becomes. As a consequence, when faced with the possibility of revising an earlier decision, participants are more likely to stick with their original choice, even when incorrect. Critically, we show that agency controls this phenomenon. The effect disap

SUBMITTER: Kaanders P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9038198 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature