Confirmation bias and misconceptions: Pupillometric evidence for a confirmation bias in misconceptions feedback

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Belief Formation

Background:

• Confirmation bias is theorized to maintain misconceptions but lacks robust empirical support.
• Previous research relied on argumentation rather than direct physiological evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physiological underpinnings of confirmation bias in the context of misconceptions.
• To examine how feedback clarity and accuracy influence cognitive processing and physiological responses.

Main Methods:

• Participants evaluated misconceptions and their belief commitment.
• Physiological responses (pupillary dilation) were measured following clear or ambiguous feedback.
• Feedback varied in accuracy (correct/incorrect) and clarity (clear/ambiguous).

Main Results:

• Pupil size interacted with feedback accuracy and clarity.
• Confirmatory feedback, even when ambiguous, elicited smaller pupil responses than disconfirmatory feedback.
• Stronger commitment to misconceptions amplified the physiological response to belief-violating feedback.

Conclusions:

• Physiological data support the existence and role of confirmation bias in maintaining misconceptions.
• Ambiguous feedback is processed as confirmatory, indicating a bias towards belief maintenance.
• Individual commitment to misconceptions modulates the impact of disconfirming evidence.