Challenging Confirmation Bias

Spring 2022 Digital Citizenship Newsletter

Secondary Edition

COMMON SENSE MEDIA - NEWS & MEDIA LITERACY STRAND

Standards Alignment:

• CASEL - 1b, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 5a, 5b, 5c
• AASL - I.A.2, I.B.1, I.B.3, I.C.1, I.C.4, I.D.1, I.D.2, I.D.3, II.A.1, II.B.1, II.C.1, II.C.2, II.D.1, II.D.2, III.A.1, III.A.2, III.A.3, III.B.1, III.B.2, III.C.2, III.D.1, IV.A.1, IV.A.2, IV.A.3, IV.B.1, IV.B.2, IV.B.4, V.A.1, V.A.2, V.A.3, V.C.3, VI.A.1, VI.D.1
• ISTE - 1a, 1d, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3d, 4a, 4b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d

(Standards Alignment Chart)

Confirmation bias - A tendency to interpret information in a way that affirms what we already believe.

Cognitive bias - Limitations in our thinking caused by perceiving information through our personal experiences and preferences.

Why does confirmation bias make us more likely to be fooled by "fake news"?

What solutions for confirmation bias does the video present?

• Recognize that you have confirmation bias.
• Consider that you may not really understand what you think you do.
• Research and break down the viewpoint of those who disagree with you

Explore resources below and track what it says about confirmation bias and fake news. Take notes in a chart like the one below.

Resource 1 - Cover Up, Your Confirmation Bias Is Showing

Jessie Smith, Medium.com, 11/6/2018

Resource 2 - Defining Confirmation Bias

Facing History and Ourselves, 2019

Resource 3 - Scientists Discover Simple Psychological Tools to Battle Fake News

Peter Hess, Inverse.com, 8/13/2018

*Teacher note: if you are doing this in class, this is a great small group activity. Print the notes sheet HERE

Teachers, for more information and a full lesson plan with lesson resources, visit Challenging Confirmation Bias | Common Sense Education