Which statement best describes confirmation bias?

• A. We form a theory and then, subconsciously, seek out evidence that confirms it while minimizing refuting evidence, and interpret ambiguous evidence as supportive.
• B. We analyze all evidence impartially and then form a theory.
• C. We ignore all evidence and rely on intuition.
• D. We randomly select a theory first and discard the rest.

Answer: (A)

Confirmation bias is the tendency to form a theory and then, subconsciously, seek out evidence that confirms it while minimizing refuting evidence, and interpret ambiguous evidence as supportive. This means beliefs steer what we notice and how we read data, biasing our conclusions even when the overall evidence is ambiguous or mixed. For example, if you decide a suspect is guilty, you’re more likely to notice clues that point to guilt and interpret unclear details as supporting it, while downplaying or misreading findings that could exonerate them. The idea of analyzing all evidence impartially and then forming a theory describes objective evaluation rather than bias. Ignoring evidence and relying on intuition isn’t about seeking confirming information either; it’s about leaping to conclusions without testing them. Randomly selecting a theory first and discarding the rest is arbitrary and not about how confirmation bias operates.