Which bias involves using information that confirms a preconception while ignoring conflicting data?

• A. Anchoring bias
• B. Availability bias
• C. Confirmation bias
• D. Cultural bias

Answer: (C)

Confirmation bias is the tendency to interpret, seek out, and remember information in a way that confirms your preexisting beliefs while discounting or ignoring data that challenges them. In this scenario, the description fits perfectly: using information that supports a preconception and overlooking conflicting evidence. This bias can subtly steer judgments, reinforce preconceptions, and lead to flawed conclusions because the overall view of the evidence becomes unbalanced.

Anchoring bias focuses on giving excessive weight to the first piece of information encountered when making judgments, which can skew estimates but isn’t defined by selectively ignoring contradicting data. Availability bias is about judging likelihood based on what’s most memorable or recent rather than on thorough evidence. Cultural bias involves interpreting events through the lens of one’s own cultural norms, rather than a tendency to filter information to confirm preconceptions.