Considering Confirmation Bias in Design and Design Research

Gregory M. Hallihan and L.H. Shu
* Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada


Abstract

Confirmation bias is an innate and pervasive human tendency to preferentially attempt to validate beliefs instead of invalidating them. However the design community, which is increasingly concerned with the cognition of designers, has largely overlooked this phenomenon. This paper discusses the relevance of confirmation bias with respect to its potential to influence designers and design researchers.

For more info:
http://www.mie.utoronto.ca/labs/bidlab-pubs/Journal/2014_HallihanShu_JIDPS_ConfirmationBias.pdf