Positive Test Strategy reinforces Confirmation Bias
A positive test strategy refers to the deliberate seeking out and recalling information that confirms what we already know or believe to be true. This can result in a confirmation bias, where we only pay attention to information that supports our pre-existing beliefs while ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts them.[1] While a positive test strategy can be helpful in some situations, such as reinforcing previously learned material, it can also limit our ability to consider new information and challenge our assumptions. As Kahneman notes:
The operations of associative memory contribute to a general confirmation bias… Contrary to the rules of philosophers of science, who advise testing hypotheses by trying to refute them, people (and scientists, quite often) seek data that are likely to be compatible with the beliefs they currently hold.
In order to overcome this bias, one must consciously identify the operative assumption(s) and deliberately search for evidence that disproves the assumptions.[2]
see also:
- Confirmation Bias defends one's assumptions
- Motivated reasoning is the soldier mindset
- Substitution answers an easier, similar question instead
- Scouts frequently update their maps
- Abductive Reasoning is inference to the best explanation