Which term describes bias when an evaluator emphasizes information that supports a favored conclusion and discounts contrary data?

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

Answer: (A)

Confirmation bias is the tendency to favor information that supports a favored conclusion and discount data that contradicts it. When an evaluator or analyst leans into evidence that confirms their initial view and downplays or ignores conflicting information, judgments become skewed because the review isn’t objective—it's driven by a preexisting belief rather than by all relevant data.

Other biases don’t describe this exact pattern. Information bias refers to errors or distortions in the way information is gathered or presented, rather than a selective emphasis on supportive data. Availability bias happens when we rely on information that’s easiest to recall, not necessarily the data that best supports a conclusion. Anchoring bias involves fixating on an initial number or impression and using it to frame all subsequent judgments, rather than balancing all evidence.