Bias

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bias

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the cognitive function?Biases can serve as cognitive shortcuts, influencing perception and decision-making, often unconsciously
2. Why do we have biases?Biases can be learned shortcuts or inherited. They help our brain process information quickly but can lead to unfair generalizations.
3. How can bias affect science and technology?In science, bias is a systematic error that can make research wrong or products unsafe. Algorithms trained on biased data can keep inequalities in hiring or loans.

Heuristics: Mental shortcuts or rules of thumb used for quick problem-solving and decision-making.
Schemas: Mental frameworks or concepts that help organize and interpret information about the world.
Systematic Error: A consistent, repeatable error in measurement or calculation that skews results in a particular direction.
Cognitive Bias: A pattern of deviation in judgment that occurs in particular situations, leading to irrational or illogical interpretations.