tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post1978716965743714504..comments2023-10-09T11:42:57.305-04:00Comments on Healthcare, etc.: Cognitive biases in medicineMarya Zilberberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080475886113209344noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-56802034190752120842010-10-29T16:01:07.768-04:002010-10-29T16:01:07.768-04:00Thanks a lot for the suggestion. As you can see, I...Thanks a lot for the suggestion. As you can see, I am interested in a lot of stuff :), so good reads are always appreciated.Marya Zilberberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16080475886113209344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-74959859950074110252010-10-29T15:54:14.557-04:002010-10-29T15:54:14.557-04:00If you're interested in cognitive biases and s...If you're interested in cognitive biases and some of the psychology research into them, you may enjoy "How we know what isn't so", by Thomas GilovichSirMoogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10561739412799889781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-89194588814507685192010-10-29T15:47:09.875-04:002010-10-29T15:47:09.875-04:00One other thing, SirMoogie -- I will be posting to...One other thing, SirMoogie -- I will be posting tomorrow on the other cognitive biases. I think perhaps my stance will be clarified then? And in some ways I would argue it is unimportant where I stand on it, other than to present the evidence of its existence.Marya Zilberberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16080475886113209344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-27753039832485022422010-10-29T15:45:42.866-04:002010-10-29T15:45:42.866-04:00Thank you, SirMoogie -- insightful and helpful. I ...Thank you, SirMoogie -- insightful and helpful. I could not have put it better myself.Marya Zilberberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16080475886113209344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-12404484877798894502010-10-29T15:40:40.666-04:002010-10-29T15:40:40.666-04:00"The scientific community, based on some stat..."The scientific community, based on some statistical and other methodological considerations has come to a consensus around what constitutes valid study designs. This consensus is based on a profound understanding of the tools available to us to answer the questions at hand."<br /><br />Part of that tool set is our own observational capabilities and how we can eliminate error in them, which studying cognitive biases helps us do. However, you continue to say:<br /><br />"The key concept here is that of "available tools". As new tools become available, we introduce them into our research armamentarium to go deeper and further. What we need to appreciate, however, is that "deeper" and "further" are directional words: they imply the same direction as before, only beyond the current stopping point. This is a natural way for us to think, since even our tools are built on the foundation of what has been used previously."<br /><br />You seem to suggest that this may be bad. I acknowledge that our willingness not to expand in other directions in certain circumstances would be bad, but when we've identified certain biases or errors should we not continue to try and eliminate them from contaminating our tool set? It would seem you agree with this, hence covering this topic, but you seem to paint with too broad of a brush with this statement. <br /><br />"In the meantime, see if you can remember a time when you were guilty of interpretation, confirmation, rescue or auxiliary hypothesis bias yourself. Or perhaps you have never engaged in such self-deception, but your colleagues have for sure."<br /><br />Of course we all have, but hindsight bias prevents us from thinking we have. ;)<br /><br />This goes into one of my axioms of human behavior, "The results of psychological research apply to everyone, but you."SirMoogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10561739412799889781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-3646908445228235812010-10-29T13:35:10.936-04:002010-10-29T13:35:10.936-04:00Thanks, Liz, agreed. But we can educate the masses...Thanks, Liz, agreed. But we can educate the masses. Of course only if they want to be educated.Marya Zilberberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16080475886113209344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-78616584516905510132010-10-29T13:21:07.306-04:002010-10-29T13:21:07.306-04:00Great post Marya. But as I've said time and ag...Great post Marya. But as I've said time and again, you can't take people out of their boxes if they don't want to be taken out of them.Liz Schererhttp://flashfree.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com