Outsmarting Cognitive Bias

OVERVIEW
Welcome to Module 5! We are all human, and we learn from our own experiences: our upbringing, education, life circumstances, and the people around us. That can be great, but it can also lead us—all of us—to make unconscious errors in using information. When we become aware of these errors, we feel uncomfortable. That’s normal! It is also an opportunity to grow and take steps to correct our errors with courage and humility.

In previous modules you have learned about locating and evaluating quality information. In this module you will learn about cognitive bias and how your own biases can affect your ability to evaluate the information you find. It’s not easy to change our minds or even just reflect deeply about how we made up our minds in the first place, but in this module, you’ll learn how to challenge your viewpoints when presented with new information and why this is so important.

TOPICS
Module 5 covers the following topics:

Dunning-Kruger effect Confirmation bias Cognitive dissonance
Impact of cognitive biases on our ability to evaluate information

OBJECTIVES
After successfully completing Module 5, you should be able to:

MO 5.1 Define different types of cognitive bias. [CO 3]

MO 5.2 Analyze how cognitive biases impact the ability to evaluate information. [CO 3]

MO 5.3 Reflect on your own cognitive biases. [CO 3, CO 5]

STUDY MATERIALS

Required Resources

Shepherd, J. M. (2018, March). Three kinds of bias that shape your worldview [Video]. TED Conferences. The Decision Lab. (n.d.). Why is it so hard to change someone’s beliefs? Cognitive dissonance, explained. The Decision Lab. (n.d.). Why do we favor our existing beliefs? The confirmation bias, explained.
Edmans, A. (2017, May). What to trust in a “post-truth” world [Video]. TED Conferences.
The Decision Lab. (n.d.). Why can we not perceive our own abilities? The Dunning-Kruger effect, explained.
McRaney, D. (Host). (2020, December 14). Why we are unaware that we lack the skill to tell how unskilled and unaware we are (No. 192) [Audio podcast episode]. In You Are Not So Smart.
Center for Information Technology and Society. (2022). Why we fall for fake news. (2022).
Galef, J. (2016, February). Why you think you’re right—Even if you’re wrong [Video]. TED Conferences. McRaney, D. (2017, July 25). Optimism bias (No. 105) [Audio podcast episode]. In You Are Not So Smart. Thomas Edison State University. (2022). Five questions to prevent biased thinking.

Discussion Forum 5
In Discussion Forum 5, post your response to the following discussion question. Reply to at least two classmates’ responses by the date indicated in the Course Calendar. [MO 5.1, MO 5.2]

For this discussion, you are going to think about confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance, or the Dunning-Kruger effect and your experiences with them. First, choose one of these terms and briefly summarize the concept in your own words. Then, using personal experience or an example you have seen in movies, television, or other media, describe the example and how it fits the concept (confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance, or the Dunning-Kruger effect) you chose. Relate your example to one of the TED Talks or podcast episodes listed in the Study Materials. Choose one quote to share from the TED Talks or podcast episodes that relates to your example.

In your responses to your classmates, comment on an experience you’ve had (or something you’ve seen in a movie, television show, or other form of media) that is similar to the example your classmate shared.
Written Assignment will give you an opportunity to practice what you have learned about the cognitive biases all of us have and how to work through them.

First, review this list of Current Events and Controversial Issues from the University of Michigan-Flint. Choose a topic that interests you and that you know something about already. Next, find an article or opinion essay on your topic from a reputable online source. Your task is to find an article or essay that challenges your thinking on the topic in some way because the goal for this assignment is for you to challenge your biases.

In a short response essay of approximately 600 to 800 words, explore the biases you have on this issue using the following essay structure as your guide.

First, in a short introduction, share the article you chose, how you found it, and why you chose it. Then, in your body paragraphs, respond to the following questions:

What did you already think about this topic before reading the article?

Where did you get that information? Tell the story of how you came to think what you think about this controversial issue.

How do your experiences align with or disconnect from the point of view presented in the article? What about the article challenged your current beliefs?

Finally, try to put yourself into someone else’s shoes who might disagree with you on this issue. What might they say about this issue? What points might they make that seem the most reasonable to you, even if you still disagree with them? Don’t bring it back to your side. Just summarize what you think the other side might think. In this way, you will be forced to consider that side without feeling an urge to disagree with it.

In your conclusion, reflect on the process of digging into these tough questions. What are some of the benefits of this kind of process? Be sure to provide an APA reference for your chosen article at the end of your response essay. [MO 5.2, MO 5.3]