An Experimental Evaluation of Motivated Reasoning during Data Interpretation among Psychology Students and Researchers
Date
2023
Authors
Horan, Callum
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Abstract
Motivated reasoning describes the tendency to more readily accept information that aligns with one's preferences, while discounting opposing information. This cognitive bias is particularly salient when evaluating politically polarising or identity-challenging information. When the information being presented is numeric, this is known as motivated numeracy, and has been shown to exist in the general population when interpreting data on politically polarising topics. Despite recent interest in personal biases and their influence on research in psychology, limited research exists on the prevalence of motivated reasoning in statistical data interpretation. This study investigated whether Australian psychology students and researchers are susceptible to motivated reasoning when interpreting statistical output about a politically polarising research question. Participants (N = 44) were randomised into one of two experimental conditions and asked to interpret fabricated data on the association between immigration levels and crime rates. The data presented in each condition was identical, except for the group labelling. In combination with the version of data viewed, three predictor variables were formed on: political orientation, identity-attachment to the issue, and a preference to believe a particular conclusion. No significant group differences in motivated reasoning were found across any of the predictor variables. Whilst the modest sample size limits conclusions, the results offer a promising indication of Australian psychology students' and researchers' objectivity in data interpretation. Replication studies with larger samples, and comparing psychology students and researchers to those from other disciplines, may help elucidate what differentiates our sample from those who exhibit motivated reasoning under similar conditions. Keywords: motivated reasoning, motivated numeracy, data interpretation, psychology, metascience
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2023
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