Interesting radio piece about confirmation bias...

[Marco]

Sorry, Sam. I missed this:

As per the program linked to - the bigger the group all with the same mind set, the more out of control the confirmation bias becomes!

Indeed. Fortunately, not all of my friends have the same mindset. They are also forthright in their views (there are no shrinking violets), and certainly aren't afraid of expressing a contrary opinion. We don't do these things to have a cosy group hug...

Out of interest - have you ever experienced someone in the group not hearing the difference?

Yes, all the time. We sometimes also disagree about what we hear and/or prioritise certain aspects of the sonic/musical presentation, of whatever is being tested, differently.

What has been your reaction, to question your own perception or to dismiss it and that listeners hearing ability (and never to be invited around again! )?

Lol! Nah, nothing like that.

We value each other's observations and try to use them to learn something useful about what we've subjectively tested. Above all though, we like to have a good laugh and enjoy the music and banter. The whole point is to have FUN!

We leave the white lab coats and blindfolds to others....

Marco.

[Macca]

That's as strong an argument as are common arguments against evolution. Those arguments are based on critising some anecdotal piece intended to be light-weight, low-brow and entertaining whilst the MASS of evidence seen time and time and time again in a multitude of situations and environments throughout history is ignored and remains in the thousands of research papers from unconnected studies, conclusions reached independently by hundreds of researchers and all verified independently. Similar mindset in arguments against man made climate change when the evidence is so diverse and pervasive (but they could be experiencing some mass confirmation bias - which you don't believe in so that can be discounted! ). I see a theme in your outlook.

!

If there is a theme in my outlook it is 'question everything'. Science and scientists are not infallible and often have agendas other than seeking the truth - as the man made climate change debacle has demonstrated. Incidentally I used to take that as gospel and was right behind it until a few things that didn't sit right caused me to investigate further.

Likewise 'Confirmation Bias' needn't be accepted as gospel. Especially not when the 'science' involved here is Psychology. Science can observe and it can draw conclusions but the conclusions drawn are not necessarily the truth even if they do appear to be a convenient fit with the observations.

You rely on your judgement and your senses when deciding at what point you should pull out onto a busy roundabout, every day without even considering it despite the fact that if you get it wrong by a split second the consequences could be disastrous and fatal. Yet when relaxing in your own home and deciding if a tweak to your audio system is better, worse or no change; all of a sudden your senses are so confused that you can't be sure which way is up?

[Gazjam]

Originally Posted by Marco

The 'experience' in question involves wearing his wife's knickers [and one day she caught him], so he's too shy to say!

Marco.

Thank god it's not just me who does that

You wear his Wifes knickers as well?
Popular woman...

[Marco]

Apparently, she has immaculate taste in multi-packs of 'cotton hi-legs' from M&S

Marco.

[Gazjam]

"Apparently?"
Not you as well Marco...

[Marco]

Grant told me!

Marco.