What does confirmation bias refer to?

• A. Seeks evidence to test new ideas objectively.
• B. Seeks to confirm what is already believed, ignoring contrary evidence.
• C. A random evaluation of data without preconceptions.
• D. Relies exclusively on numerical data to draw conclusions.

Answer: (B)

Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information in a way that reinforces what you already believe, while giving less weight to evidence that could challenge those beliefs. This means you might actively look for supporting data and interpret ambiguous results as supporting your view, even when other information is available.

That’s why the best choice is the one that states it seeks to confirm what is already believed, ignoring contrary evidence. It directly captures the idea of prioritizing preexisting beliefs over objective evaluation.

The other options describe objective testing, random evaluation without preconceptions, or relying only on numerical data—none of which describe the bias of favoring one's own beliefs and discounting opposing information.