Which tendency involves searching for information that supports our preconceptions and ignoring contradictory evidence?

• A. Confirmation bias
• B. Mental set
• C. Divergent thinking
• D. Creativity

Answer: (A)

This question is about confirmation bias—the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms our preconceptions while ignoring evidence that contradicts them. When people have a belief, they’re more likely to seek out sources that support it, interpret ambiguous data as supporting it, and recall supporting examples more than disconfirming ones. That combination explains why someone would actively look for information that fits what they already think and dismiss or overlook contradictory information.

Mental set refers to sticking with a familiar problem-solving approach because it has worked before, not specifically to evaluating information. Divergent thinking is about generating many possible ideas, which is a creative process rather than a bias in gathering or interpreting evidence. Creativity involves producing novel and valuable ideas, not necessarily tied to how we process or prioritize information.