The perception that psychological research findings merely verify our commonsense understanding is most clearly facilitated by
A) random assignment.
B) hindsight bias.
C) operational definitions.
D) the placebo effect.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias is the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. This bias can lead us to believe that psychological research findings are simply confirming what we already knew all along, when in reality the studies often provide new insights and challenges to our existing beliefs. Random assignment helps ensure that groups being compared are similar, operational definitions clarify terms used in research, and the placebo effect is a phenomenon in which people's beliefs about the effectiveness of a treatment can impact their response to it. None of these factors contribute directly to the perception that psychological research simply confirms commonsense knowledge.

The Perception That Psychological Research Findings Merely Verify Our Commonsense