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"Choice-supportive bias" in science: Explanation and mitigation.
Mahdi Kafaee1, Hanie Marhamati2, Shahriar Gharibzadeh2
1Department of Electrical Engineering and Robotics, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran.
Accountability in Research
|January 5, 2021
Summary
Scientific research involves choices prone to choice-supportive bias. Mitigating this cognitive bias requires self-criticism, documenting research flaws, and strengthening control processes to improve scientific integrity.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Science
- Research Integrity
Background:
- Scientific research is susceptible to errors originating from various sources.
- Cognitive biases, particularly those affecting thinking and information processing, are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to these errors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To bridge the understanding between scientific research mistakes and cognitive biases.
- To identify choice-supportive bias as a specific cognitive limitation in scientific inquiry.
- To propose methods for mitigating the impact of cognitive biases on scientific research.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis linking scientific decision-making stages to cognitive biases.
- Identification and explanation of choice-supportive bias within the scientific process.
- Discussion of potential interventions to counteract cognitive limitations.
Main Results:
- Scientific research necessitates numerous choices at critical junctures (e.g., subject selection, data analysis, theory formulation).
- Choice-supportive bias can influence these decisions, potentially compromising objectivity.
- The study highlights the pervasive nature of cognitive limitations in scientific endeavors.
Conclusions:
- Choice-supportive bias is a significant cognitive limitation impacting scientific research.
- Implementing enhanced self-criticism, pre-publication documentation of shortcomings, and robust control processes can mitigate this bias.
- Strengthening these measures is crucial for enhancing the reliability and integrity of scientific findings.
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