Bias
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
| Revision as of 07:01, 12 June 2007 WikiSysop (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Current revision Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | [[Image:Doré's caricature of Münchhausen.jpg|200px|thumb|left| | ||
| + | [[Doré's caricature of Münchhausen]], a portrait bust of [[Baron Münchhausen]] by French artist [[Gustave Doré]]]] | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | A '''bias''' is a [[prejudice]] in a general or specific sense, usually in the sense for having a preference to one particular [[perspective (cognitive)|point of view]] or [[ideology|ideological]] perspective. However, one is generally only said to be ''biased'' if one's powers of judgment are influenced by the biases one holds, to the extent that one's views could not be taken as being [[Objectivity (philosophy)|neutral]] or [[Objectivity (science)|objective]], but instead as [[Subjectivity|subjective]]. A bias could, for example, lead one to accept or deny the [[truth]] of a [[logical assertion|claim]], not on the basis of the strength of the arguments in support of the claim themselves, but because of the extent of the claim's correspondence with one's own preconceived [[idea]]s. This is called [[confirmation bias]]. | + | '''Bias''' is an [[inclination]] of [[temperament]]s or [[outlook]] to present or hold a partial perspective at the expense of (possibly equally valid) alternatives in reference to objects, people, or groups. Anything biased generally is one-sided and therefore lacks a [[neutral point of view]]. Bias can come in many forms and is often considered to be synonymous with [[prejudice]] or [[bigotry]]. |
| + | |||
| + | ==In judgement and decision making== | ||
| + | A [[cognitive bias]] is the human tendency to make systematic decisions in certain circumstances based on [[cognitive]] factors rather than evidence. Bias arises from various processes that are sometimes difficult to distinguish. These processes include information-processing shortcuts, motivational factors, and social influence (Wilcox, 2011). Such biases can result from information-processing shortcuts called ''[[heuristics]]''. They include errors in judgment, [[social attribution]], and memory. Cognitive biases are a common outcome of human thought, and often drastically skew the reliability of [[anecdotal evidence|anecdotal]] and [[evidence (law)|legal evidence]]. It is a phenomenon studied in [[cognitive science]] and [[social psychology]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==In the media== | ||
| + | [[Media bias]] is the bias of [[journalist]]s and [[news producer]]s within the [[mass media]], in the selection of which events and stories are reported and how they are covered. The term "media bias" implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening [[Journalism ethics and standards|the standards of journalism]], rather than the perspective of an individual journalist or article. The direction and degree of media bias in various countries is widely disputed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Practical limitations to media neutrality include the inability of journalists to report all available stories and facts, and the requirement that selected facts be linked into a coherent narrative (Newton 1989). Since it is impossible to report everything, selectivity is inevitable. [[Government]] influence, including overt and covert [[censorship]], biases the media in some countries. Market forces that result in a biased presentation include the [[ownership]] of the news source, [[concentration of media ownership]], the selection of [[Employment|staff]], the [[preference]]s of an intended [[audience]], and pressure from [[advertiser]]s. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Political bias has been a feature of the mass media since its birth with the invention of the [[printing press]]. The expense of early printing equipment restricted media production to a limited number of people. Historians have found that publishers often served the interests of powerful social groups. | ||
| + | ==Other aspects== | ||
| + | * Economic: When People/Government interpret a law/contract in their favor for economic reasons. | ||
| + | * [[Inductive bias]] in machine learning. | ||
| + | * [[Cultural bias]]: interpreting and judging phenomena in terms particular to one's own culture. | ||
| + | * [[Racism]], [[regionalism (politics)|regionalism]] and [[tribalism]]: Judging people or phenomena associated with people based on the race/ethnicity, region of origin, or tribe of the people, rather than based on more objective criteria. | ||
| + | * [[Sexism]]: Judging based on gender, rather than on more objective criteria. | ||
| + | * [[Heteronormativity]]: The belief that every person is innately [[heterosexual]]. Other [[sexual orientation]]s are not immutable characteristics of people, but simply consist of sexual practices that are believed to be deviant. | ||
| + | * [[Homophobia]]: The belief that [[homosexuality]] is inferior to heterosexuality. | ||
| + | * [[Sensationalism|Sensationalist]]: put simply, favouring the exceptional over the ordinary. However this sentence structure makes is sound like an appeal to popularity or normalcy fallacy. This is actually a more complex problem, whereby, the proponent elevates the importance of the evidence to more subjects than it is relevant. This is accomplished by willfull bias, assumption or, putting conclusion ahead of evidence. In practice, this includes emphasizing, distorting, or fabricating exceptional news stories to boost popularity. | ||
| + | * [[Funding bias]] in scientific studies also known as the [[agent-principle dilemma]]. | ||
| + | * [[Medical bias]] is also known as a physician having a [[conflict of interest]]. | ||
| + | * [[Biasing]] or ''bias'' in electrical engineering: force applied as a reference level in order to operate a device. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Prejudice]] | ||
| + | * [[Impartiality]] | ||
| + | * [[List of cognitive biases]] | ||
| + | * [[Scholarly method]] | ||
| + | * [[Source criticism]] | ||
| + | * [[Weasel word]] | ||
| + | * [[Detection theory]] | ||
| + | * [[Experimenter's bias]] | ||
| + | * [[Social desirability bias]] | ||
| + | * [[Political correctness]] | ||
| - | A [[systematic bias]] is a bias resulting from a flaw integral to the [[system]] within which the bias arises (for example, an incorrectly calibrated [[thermostat]] may consistently read — that is 'be biased' — several degrees hotter or colder than actual [[temperature]]). As a consequence, systematic bias commonly leads to [[systematic error]]s, as opposed to [[random error]]s, which tend to cancel one another out. | ||
| - | In practice, accusations of bias often result from a perception of unacknowledged [[favouritism]] on the part of a [[critic]] or [[judge]], or indeed any person in a position requiring the careful and disinterested exercise of arbitration or assessment. Any tendency to favour a certain set of values naturally leads to an uneven dispensation of judgment. It may also be noted that, if a person were to take their own preexisting view as ''[[A priori and a posteriori (philosophy)|a priori]]'' balanced without acknowledging their own personal inclinations, any person or organization that ''disagrees'' with their views is likely to be viewed as biased ''regardless'' of that person or organization's actual efforts at balance. It may be observed that bias is, in a sense, reflexive, unacknowledged or unrecognized bias potentially leading to its apprehension (with or without good reason) in others. | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Current revision
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Bias is an inclination of temperaments or outlook to present or hold a partial perspective at the expense of (possibly equally valid) alternatives in reference to objects, people, or groups. Anything biased generally is one-sided and therefore lacks a neutral point of view. Bias can come in many forms and is often considered to be synonymous with prejudice or bigotry.
Contents |
In judgement and decision making
A cognitive bias is the human tendency to make systematic decisions in certain circumstances based on cognitive factors rather than evidence. Bias arises from various processes that are sometimes difficult to distinguish. These processes include information-processing shortcuts, motivational factors, and social influence (Wilcox, 2011). Such biases can result from information-processing shortcuts called heuristics. They include errors in judgment, social attribution, and memory. Cognitive biases are a common outcome of human thought, and often drastically skew the reliability of anecdotal and legal evidence. It is a phenomenon studied in cognitive science and social psychology.
In the media
Media bias is the bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media, in the selection of which events and stories are reported and how they are covered. The term "media bias" implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the perspective of an individual journalist or article. The direction and degree of media bias in various countries is widely disputed.
Practical limitations to media neutrality include the inability of journalists to report all available stories and facts, and the requirement that selected facts be linked into a coherent narrative (Newton 1989). Since it is impossible to report everything, selectivity is inevitable. Government influence, including overt and covert censorship, biases the media in some countries. Market forces that result in a biased presentation include the ownership of the news source, concentration of media ownership, the selection of staff, the preferences of an intended audience, and pressure from advertisers.
Political bias has been a feature of the mass media since its birth with the invention of the printing press. The expense of early printing equipment restricted media production to a limited number of people. Historians have found that publishers often served the interests of powerful social groups.
Other aspects
- Economic: When People/Government interpret a law/contract in their favor for economic reasons.
- Inductive bias in machine learning.
- Cultural bias: interpreting and judging phenomena in terms particular to one's own culture.
- Racism, regionalism and tribalism: Judging people or phenomena associated with people based on the race/ethnicity, region of origin, or tribe of the people, rather than based on more objective criteria.
- Sexism: Judging based on gender, rather than on more objective criteria.
- Heteronormativity: The belief that every person is innately heterosexual. Other sexual orientations are not immutable characteristics of people, but simply consist of sexual practices that are believed to be deviant.
- Homophobia: The belief that homosexuality is inferior to heterosexuality.
- Sensationalist: put simply, favouring the exceptional over the ordinary. However this sentence structure makes is sound like an appeal to popularity or normalcy fallacy. This is actually a more complex problem, whereby, the proponent elevates the importance of the evidence to more subjects than it is relevant. This is accomplished by willfull bias, assumption or, putting conclusion ahead of evidence. In practice, this includes emphasizing, distorting, or fabricating exceptional news stories to boost popularity.
- Funding bias in scientific studies also known as the agent-principle dilemma.
- Medical bias is also known as a physician having a conflict of interest.
- Biasing or bias in electrical engineering: force applied as a reference level in order to operate a device.
See also
- Prejudice
- Impartiality
- List of cognitive biases
- Scholarly method
- Source criticism
- Weasel word
- Detection theory
- Experimenter's bias
- Social desirability bias
- Political correctness
