Disconfirmation of confirmation bias

The current experiment investigated whether counter-attitudinal information can alter a pre-existing attitude and the accompanying confirmation bias. Sixty-three non-clinical children (9 – 12 years) were shown pictures of a positive animal (quokka) or a dangerous-looking animal (aye aye). For both animals attitudes and information seeking patterns were obtained. Next, they received counter-attitudinal information of each animal; attitudes and seeking patterns were reassessed. We found that the aye aye was perceived as more dangerous and less kind compared to the quokka. A negative confirmation bias was observed for the aye aye, more negative than positive or neutral information was requested. For the quokka this pattern was absent, more positive and negative than neutral information was selected. The counter-attitudinal information decreased the scariness of the aye aye, but did marginally alter that of the quokka. Additionally, for the aye aye counter-attitudinal information increased search for positive and neutral information and decreased search for negative information. For the quokka the counter-attitudinal information only increased search for neutral information. The animals no longer differed from each other and no clear confirmation bias patterns were present. These results indicate that it is possible to change pre-existing values and their accompanying information search patterns.

本实验旨在探究反态度信息能否改变既存态度及其伴随的证实性偏差（confirmation bias）。招募63名非临床儿童（年龄9至12岁），向其展示正面动物（quokka，短尾矮袋鼠）与外观具危险性的动物（aye aye，指狐猴）的图片。分别采集两类动物的态度与信息寻求模式数据。随后向被试呈现针对每种动物的反态度信息，并再次评估其态度与信息寻求模式。研究发现，相较于短尾矮袋鼠，指狐猴被感知为更具危险性且亲和力更低。针对指狐猴观察到负性证实性偏差：被试更倾向于寻求负性信息而非正性或中性信息；而短尾矮袋鼠未呈现该模式，被试选择的正性、负性信息均多于中性信息。反态度信息可降低指狐猴的恐怖感，但仅轻微改变被试对短尾矮袋鼠的相关感知。此外，针对指狐猴的反态度信息提升了被试对正性与中性信息的搜索意愿，降低了对负性信息的搜索；而针对短尾矮袋鼠的反态度信息仅提升了对中性信息的搜索。此时两类动物的评分不再存在显著差异，且未观察到明确的证实性偏差模式。上述结果表明，改变既存态度及其伴随的信息搜索模式具备可行性。