Confirmation Bias: Learn to overcome this common cognitive bias

Have you ever wondered why it seems like toast always hits the floor with the buttered side facing down? In this video, I solve the mystery of falling toast by discussing confirmation bias. I go over the four ways that people can experience confirmation bias and offer some tips on how to avoid it.

For resources to improve your understanding of the concepts covered in this video, check out my store on Teachers Pay Teachers at this link:

And the specific link for this video:

You can also find more resources for teaching and learning science at my website:

Thanks so much to the following people whose work helped me make this video:

Information References

Clip Credits

Farrelly, Peter and Bobby Farrelly, directors. Dumb and Dumber. New Line Cinema, 1994.

Music Credits

‘Inspirational Background’

‘Irreducible’

Video Background

‘Space’

Thumbnail Image

‘Toast, bread, meal, breakfast’

[icamedance]

Super good video. One of the best explanations of confirmation bias I've seen.

[authorjennifertaylor]

Thanks for teaching me something new! What a great resource for students, teachers, parents, and....everybody!

[sarahscholtes]

I recently read the book "Skeptics Guide to the Universe" which has a description of these biases. I loved this book and your videos have helped to solidify that information through relatable examples and visual cues to help make the information sticky on the old brain. Well done!

[markthomas]

I am full of bias does that mean I am unreasonably biased about my biases? Never ever thought about "confirmation bias". Thanks Luke great vid.

[adventurousappetite]

I am definitely guilty of this! Great video.

[Grace_Piano]

I really found your video helpful and I hope you keep making new videos! I'm learning about logical fallacies and the scientific method at home and I think this is one of the best videos about logical fallacies. I'm going to watch all of your videos. (Also at 5:18 you missed a decimal point.) 😉

[georamo]

Super cool. Clear explanations & examples. I could definitely use this with my students. Keep it up! I already subscribed. ;o)

[smagri]

Great video! Love the Dumb & Dumber example.

[EmbraceTheStruggle]

While objective information is important; the way it is interpreted can fit the mold of black and white thinking. Experimenting and operant conditoning are part of how bias is the way it is too; even if it isn't always meant to be conformation bias.

[OnuigboChimaobi]

I want to ask: if someone present a fact or evidence or information that contradicts my beliefs and I examined them and found out that the information does not prove my beliefs wrong or that the information proves to be false and on that basis I refuse and dismiss the "fact" or "information", is it confirmation bias?

[Akuyaku]

Tbh i do not feel that i have this problem i just see facts and intake all information to come up with several possibilities, and I guess I act upon all of the possibilities and i do not filter these possibilities by stupid beleives but yes sometimes out of fear I think i do become narrow minded

[EastBayE]

You drop a lot of toast. By the way, butter is denser and heavier than toast which should make the butter side indeed more likely to pull downward in gravity than the lighter side….