When Renate bought her memory-enhancing subliminal tapes, she was pleased to read about a study that showed that their use could produce positive results. However, she ignored the evidence from many other studies that did not support the claims made for the effectiveness of the subliminal tapes. This example illustrates:
A) the effect of demand characteristics.
B) critical thinking.
C) the confirmation bias.
D) the practice effect.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The confirmation bias refers to the tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses while ignoring information that contradicts those beliefs. In this case, Renate ignored evidence that contradicted the claims made for the effectiveness of the subliminal tapes, which is an example of the confirmation bias.

When Renate Bought Her Memory-Enhancing Subliminal Tapes, She Was Pleased