Hope To Be Right: Biased Information Seeking Following Arbitrary And Informed Predictions

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Andrew Smith Ph.D, Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/

Abstract: Five studies tested when and why individuals engage in confirmatory information searches (selective exposure) following predictions. Participants engaged in selective exposure following their own predictions, evenwhen their predictions were completely arbitrary (Studies 1 and 3). The selective exposure was not simply the result of a cognitive bias tied to the salience of a prediction option (Study 2). Instead, it appears that making a prediction—regardless of how ill-informed a person is while making the prediction—can cause the personto anticipate enjoyment from being right (Studies 4 and 5) and to select new information consistent with that outcome. The results establish a desirability account that can explain post-prediction selective exposure effects even in cases when defense motivations, pre-existing differences, or positive-test strategies can beruled out as explanations.

Additional Information

Publication
Aaron M. Scherer ,Paul D. Windschitl , Andrew R. Smith(2010) "Hope to be right: Biased information seeking following Arbitrary and Informed Predictions" Journal of Experimental Social Psychology V.49 pp. 106-112
Language: English
Date: 2013
Keywords
, selective-exposure, confirmation-bias, information-searches, cognitive-dissonance, overconfidence,

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