What is confirmation bias?

Confirmation bias is defined as the tendency to favor information that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses while disregarding or minimizing information that contradicts those beliefs. This cognitive bias is significant in various fields, including UX design, because it affects how designers interpret user feedback, research findings, and test data.

When designers exhibit confirmation bias, they may prioritize user feedback that aligns with their ideas and overlook feedback that suggests changes or challenges their assumptions. This can lead to a flawed understanding of user needs and missed opportunities for improvement. Recognizing and overcoming confirmation bias is crucial in UX design to ensure that the final product truly resonates with users and addresses their needs effectively.

The other choices highlight different cognitive biases or behaviors that do not accurately capture the essence of confirmation bias, underscoring why the selected answer about favoring evidence that supports existing hypotheses is the most accurate definition.