Perceptual Bias Research Articles

Density and abundance estimates of cetaceans in the Black Sea through aerial surveys (ASI/CeNoBS)

IntroductionPopulation abundance is amongst the most basic and crucial parameters for the assessment of conservation status of any species. Three species of odontocetes, all represented by local subspecies, inhabit the Black Sea: the Black Sea common dolphin Delphinus delphis ponticus, the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus ponticus, and the Black Sea harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena relicta. Their populations are threatened by multiple factors, including overfishing of their prey, bycatch, pollution and epizootics. Despite this, there are no basinwide estimates for any cetacean species in the Black Sea.MethodsIn 2019, a systematic study was carried out under the EU CeNoBS project. Six strata were designed in the waters of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine, covering most of territorial and offshore waters, which were surveyed between June 19 and July 4. A line transect distance sampling approach was used, following predefined transects within each stratum, achieving a 5% coverage of the surveyed area. A total of 7,344 kilometres of transects were surveyed recording a total of 1,744 cetacean sightings. Design-based abundance estimates were obtained using a Multiple Covariate Distance Sampling (MCDS) approach. Model-based abundance estimates were also derived using a Generalized Additive Models (GAM) approach, linking species sightings with a number of environmental covariates (e.g., bathymetric features, sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a) over a grid of 10x10 km.Results and discussionThe uncorrected (for perception and availability bias) estimates obtained through the model-based analysis were 108,283 (CV=0.07) common dolphins, 22,720 (CV=0.15) bottlenose dolphins and 93,808 (CV=0.06) harbour porpoises. These aerial surveys yielded the first insights on overall abundance, density and distribution, providing current regional baseline values and density maps for all three cetacean species of the Black Sea during the summer months, to be used for the elaboration of effective conservation measures and to address national and international requirements.

More familiar, more credible? Distinguishing two types of familiarity on the truth effect using the drift-diffusion model

ABSTRACT Familiar information is more likely to be accepted as true. This illusory truth effect has a tremendous negative impact on misinformation intervention. Previous studies focused on the familiarity from repeated exposure in the laboratory, ignoring preexisting familiarity with real-world misinformation. Over three studies (total N = 337), we investigated the cognitive mechanisms behind the truth biases from these two familiarity sources, and whether fact-checking can curb such biased truth perceptions. Studies 1 and 2 found robust truth effects induced by two sources of familiarity but with different cognitive processes. According to the cognitive process model, repetition-induced familiarity reduced decision prudence. Preexisting familiarity instead enhanced truth-congruent evidence accumulation. Study 3 showed that pre-exposing statements with warning flags eliminated the bias to truth induced by repetition but not that from preexisting familiarity. These repeated statements with warning labels also reduced decision caution. These findings furthered the understanding of how different sources of familiarity affect truth perceptions and undermine the intervention through different cognitive processes.

Exploring Unprofessional Behaviors and Biased Perceptions in the Clinical Environment: Students’ Perspectives

Professionalism stands as a fundamental cornerstone within the realm of physician training, representing a core competency that holds significant importance. It entails creating workplaces that are physically and psychologically safe within the health care system. Positive role modeling from health professionals is important in creating a learning environment that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion for all. Using the mixed-methods sequential design, this study investigated unprofessional behaviors and biased perceptions demonstrated by health professionals as perceived and experienced by medical students during their clinical rotations at one medical school. Seventy-three M3 students and 37 M4 students responded to the survey, followed by three focus groups (n = 11) to further examine unprofessionalism and biases as well as impacts on performance, learning opportunities, and well-being. The results from both the quantitative and qualitative data demonstrate the presence of unprofessionalism and biases within the current medical education environment. These issues include a lack of respect and compassion, a lack of commitment to professional duties, malfunctioning teamwork, and a lack of sensitivity towards individuals regardless of their group affiliations. The unprofessional behaviors and biased perceptions have detrimental impacts on students’ performance, learning, and well-being. The reasons behind unprofessionalism and bias are multifaceted, influenced by societal and local environmental factors that extend beyond individual beliefs and values. By collecting empirical data on students’ experiences and perceptions, the study sheds light on the areas that need improvement and offers insights into adopting strategies to decrease unprofessional conducts and foster a respectful and inclusive learning environment.

Impact of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) on air safety: Evidence from Airbus® TCAS/ROSE simulators

The present research was designed to provide evidence into why and when Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) occur and pose a threat to aviation safety. Specifically, the goal was to understand how causal illusions interact with perceptual biases with and without irrational reasoning. A total of 408 airline pilots participated in an experiment using Airbus® aircraft TCAS/ROSE simulators. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM), controlling for the effects of fatigue and flight hours. Results indicated that causal illusions were 82.4% predictive of UAP sightings only when magical inference was present. Our experimental evidence shows that UAPs may be explained as cognitive biases and would pose a threat to aviation safety if pilots—or even aircraft AIs—were to detect them in an irrational way (e.g., as alien objects). A novel theorization that integrates major perception, clinical, and cognition models is offered. Additionally, the authors discuss the implications for aviation safety and determine when a UAP sighting may pose a real danger on a commercial flight.

Visual working memories are abstractions of percepts.

During perception, decoding the orientation of gratings depends on complex interactions between the orientation of the grating, aperture edges, and topographic structure of the visual map. Here, we aimed to test how aperture biases described during perception affect working memory (WM) decoding. For memoranda, we used gratings multiplied by radial and angular modulators to generate orthogonal aperture biases for identical orientations. Therefore, if WM representations are simply maintained sensory representations, they would have similar aperture biases. If they are abstractions of sensory features, they would be unbiased and the modulator would have no effect on orientation decoding. Neural patterns of delay period activity while maintaining the orientation of gratings with one modulator (e.g. radial) were interchangeable with patterns while maintaining gratings with the other modulator (e.g. angular) in visual and parietal cortex, suggesting that WM representations are insensitive to aperture biases during perception. Then, we visualized memory abstractions of stimuli using models of visual field map properties. Regardless of aperture biases, WM representations of both modulated gratings were recoded into a single oriented line. These results provide strong evidence that visual WM representations are abstractions of percepts, immune to perceptual aperture biases, and compel revisions of WM theory.

Visual working memories are abstractions of percepts

During perception, decoding the orientation of gratings depends on complex interactions between the orientation of the grating, aperture edges, and topographic structure of the visual map. Here, we aimed to test how aperture biases described during perception affect working memory (WM) decoding. For memoranda, we used gratings multiplied by radial and angular modulators to generate orthogonal aperture biases for identical orientations. Therefore, if WM representations are simply maintained sensory representations, they would have similar aperture biases. If they are abstractions of sensory features, they would be unbiased and the modulator would have no effect on orientation decoding. Neural patterns of delay period activity while maintaining the orientation of gratings with one modulator (e.g. radial) were interchangeable with patterns while maintaining gratings with the other modulator (e.g. angular) in visual and parietal cortex, suggesting that WM representations are insensitive to aperture biases during perception. Then, we visualized memory abstractions of stimuli using models of visual field map properties. Regardless of aperture biases, WM representations of both modulated gratings were recoded into a single oriented line. These results provide strong evidence that visual WM representations are abstractions of percepts, immune to perceptual aperture biases, and compel revisions of WM theory.

Why do Workers Generate Biased Risk Perceptions? An Analysis of Anchoring Effects and Influential Factors in Workers' Assessment of Unsafe Behavior

BackgroundRisk perception plays a crucial role in workers' unsafe behaviors. However, little research has explored why workers generate biased risk perceptions, namely underestimating or overestimating the risks of unsafe actions. Cognitive biases in risk perception arise from uncertainties about the dangers of unsafe behaviors. As a typical heuristic strategy, the anchoring effect is critical in decision-making under uncertain conditions. Consequently, this study empirically analyzed the influence of anchoring effects on workers' risk perception. MethodsIn 2022, a survey was conducted with 1,418 coal mine workers from Shanxi Province, China. The survey instruments assessed workers' risk perception of unsafe behavior, anchoring effects, need for cognition, and safety knowledge. Multivariable linear regression models were employed to analyze the associations among these variables. ResultsThe findings verified the proposed anchoring effects. Specifically, experimenter-provided high-risk anchors led workers to overestimate unsafe behavior risks, thus reducing their tendency to engage in such behavior. In contrast, experimenter-provided low-risk anchors and accident-injury experiences (self-generated anchors) decreased workers' risk perception, increasing their propensity to engage in unsafe behavior. Additionally, workers' safety knowledge and need for cognition significantly affected anchoring effects. ConclusionThis research enhances workplace safety studies by applying the anchoring effect from psychology to risk perception research. Suggestions for improving risk perception encompass implementing hazard warnings, fostering safety education, and providing training. Furthermore, managers should give special attention to workers with accident-injury experience and promptly correct their accident fluke mentality, thereby improving overall risk awareness.

Do green dynamic capabilities and absorptive capacity affect green innovation performance? A study on companies in Indonesia

Purpose: This study aims to empirically analyze the effect of absorptive capacity, green dynamic capability, and green manufacturing practices (GMP) on green innovation performance (GIP).Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach was employed in this study, with data collected through a questionnaire and analyzed for hypothesis using the partial least squares structural equation model. In order to enhance the depth of the analysis, in-depth interviews were conducted with experienced practitioners from three selected companies implementing green innovations.Findings: Empirical findings showed that reconfiguring capabilities positively affects GIP. Realized absorptive capacity positively affects GMP but does not affect GIP. Then, realized absorptive capacity positively impacts sensing and reconfiguration capabilities. GMP mediates the relationship between realized absorptive capacity and GIP. This study reveals the two pathways through which green dynamic capabilities affect realized absorptive capacity and GIP.Research limitations/implications: This study has yet to consider potential variations in company ownership, applied technology, and industry type that could lead to differences in green innovation characteristics. This study employed a small sample size and a Likert-scale questionnaire, possibly leading to respondent perception bias (although this is unlikely).Practical implications: The results of this study offered valuable insights into how companies developed dynamic capabilities to address essential green requirements in their product and processes. Thus, companies can prepare all available resources to adapt to various environment-related changes.Social implications: Companies with high green innovation performance will produce environmentally friendly products, conduct industrial activities without damaging the environment, and ultimately create a sustainable industry.Originality/value: What distinguishes this study is the division of green dynamic capabilities into three independent capabilities: SenCap, SeiCap, and Reconf, which had been described as a single capacity in previous studies. Furthermore, this study emphasizes GMP's position between absorptive capacity and green dynamic capability with GIP.

Moral commitment to gender equality increases (mis)perceptions of gender bias in hiring

AbstractExploring what modulates people's trust in evidence of hiring discrimination is crucial to the deployment of corrective policies. Here, we explore one powerful source of variation in such judgments: moral commitment to gender equality (MCGE), that is, perceptions of the issue as a moral imperative and as identity‐defining. Across seven experiments (N = 3579), we examined folk evaluations of scientific reports of hiring discrimination in academia. Participants who were more morally committed to gender equality were more likely to trust rigorous, experimental evidence of gender discrimination against women. This association between moral commitment and research evaluations was not reducible to prior beliefs, and largely explained a sex difference in people's evaluations on the issue. On a darker note, however, MCGE was associated with increased chances of fallaciously inferring discrimination against women from contradictory evidence. Overall, our results suggest that moral convictions amplify people's myside bias, bringing about both benefits and costs in the public consumption of science.

Modality-specific effects of threat on self-motion perception

BackgroundThreat and individual differences in threat-processing bias perception of stimuli in the environment. Yet, their effect on perception of one’s own (body-based) self-motion in space is unknown. Here, we tested the effects of threat on self-motion perception using a multisensory motion simulator with concurrent threatening or neutral auditory stimuli.ResultsStrikingly, threat had opposite effects on vestibular and visual self-motion perception, leading to overestimation of vestibular, but underestimation of visual self-motions. Trait anxiety tended to be associated with an enhanced effect of threat on estimates of self-motion for both modalities.ConclusionsEnhanced vestibular perception under threat might stem from shared neural substrates with emotional processing, whereas diminished visual self-motion perception may indicate that a threatening stimulus diverts attention away from optic flow integration. Thus, threat induces modality-specific biases in everyday experiences of self-motion.

Challenges of Women Working as Leaders in Aruba’s Hotel Industry

Summary The hotel industry tends to underrepresent females in top management positions. Arguably, this problem is more acute in small island nations where few higher management positions are available due to the smallness of the sector. This case study explores female hotel leaders’ perceptions of gender bias in Aruba’s hotel sector. Semi-structured interviews were expanded with the Zoomorphic Forced Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZFMET). This method surfaces nonconscious memories and offers rich insights on study participants’ perception of the implicit bias barriers that they encountered. These self-reports include their cognitive and behavioral responses to these barriers. Results show how the female managers evolve as they overcame gender bias. Overall, the managers perceive that they have grown wiser, stronger, and more alert to the occurrence of implicit gender bias. Information © The Authors 2024

Perceived controllability of group membership does not moderate individuating information effects in implicit person perception.

Although the effects of counterstereotypic individuating information (i.e., information specific to individual members of stereotyped groups that disconfirms the group stereotype) on biases in explicit person perception are well-established, research shows mixed effects of such information on implicit person perception. The present research tested the overarching hypothesis that, when social group membership is perceived to be under an individual's control, diagnostic individuating information would have lesser effects on implicit person perception than it would when social group membership is perceived not to be under an individual's control. This hypothesis was tested in the domain of implicit attitudinal and stereotype-relevant judgments of individuals who belonged to existing social groups and individuals who belonged to novel social groups. We found that individuating information consistently shifted scores on implicit measures among targets belonging to existing social groups, but not in a theoretically predicted direction among targets belonging to novel social groups. Controllability of group membership did not moderate such effects. Results of implicit and explicit measures were mostly consistent when targets belonged to existing social groups, but mostly inconsistent when targets belonged to novel social groups.

Does a perceptual gap lead to actions against digital misinformation? A third-person effect study among medical students

BackgroundWe are making progress in the fight against health-related misinformation, but mass participation and active engagement are far from adequate. Focusing on pre-professional medical students with above-average medical knowledge, our study examined whether and how third-person perceptions (TPP), which hypothesize that people tend to perceive media messages as having a greater effect on others than on themselves, would motivate their actions against misinformation.MethodsWe collected the cross-sectional data through a self-administered paper-and-pencil survey of 1,500 medical students in China during April 2022.ResultsStructural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, showed that TPP was negatively associated with medical students’ actions against digital misinformation, including rebuttal of misinformation and promotion of corrective information. However, self-efficacy and collectivism served as positive predictors of both actions. Additionally, we found professional identification failed to play a significant role in influencing TPP, while digital misinformation self-efficacy was found to broaden the third-person perceptual gap and collectivism tended to reduce the perceptual bias significantly.ConclusionsOur study contributes both to theory and practice. It extends the third-person effect theory by moving beyond the examination of restrictive actions and toward the exploration of corrective and promotional actions in the context of misinformation., It also lends a new perspective to the current efforts to counter digital misinformation; involving pre-professionals (in this case, medical students) in the fight.

On the Welfare Costs of Perceptions Biases

AbstractAre households harmed by inaccurate inflation beliefs? This paper analyzes two established inflation perceptions biases and evaluates their welfare effects. Using French survey data I study the frequency bias, where households overweight goods that they purchase frequently, and the level bias, where households consistently overestimate current inflation. To evaluate the associated welfare losses, I incorporate biased inflation perceptions into a model with a nominal bond subject to inflation risk. Only the level bias significantly reduces welfare and asset accumulation. Removing the perception bias reduces the welfare loss, suggesting that inaccurate perceptions can harm households beyond affecting expectations.

A latent pool of neurons silenced by sensory-evoked inhibition can be recruited to enhance perception

To investigate which activity patterns in sensory cortex are relevant for perceptual decision-making, we combined two-photon calcium imaging and targeted two-photon optogenetics to interrogate barrel cortex activity during perceptual discrimination. We trained mice to discriminate bilateral whisker deflections and report decisions by licking left or right. Two-photon calcium imaging revealed sparse coding of contralateral and ipsilateral whisker input in layer 2/3, with most neurons remaining silent during the task. Activating pyramidal neurons using two-photon holographic photostimulation evoked a perceptual bias that scaled with the number of neurons photostimulated. This effect was dominated by optogenetic activation of non-coding neurons, which did not show sensory or motor-related activity during task performance. Photostimulation also revealed potent recruitment of cortical inhibition during sensory processing, which strongly and preferentially suppressed non-coding neurons. Our results suggest that a pool of non-coding neurons, selectively suppressed by network inhibition during sensory processing, can be recruited to enhance perception.

Adolescents' implicit and explicit attitudes toward their peers with genetic conditions.

Previous research has demonstrated that children lacking knowledge about genetic disorders may have harmful attitudes toward people with disabilities, but disability awareness can successfully modify these attitudes. We explored adolescents' implicit and explicit attitudes towardpeers with genetic conditions to determine whether improved genetics/genomics literacy can mitigate the impact of ableism in this population. English-speaking adolescents (10-18 years) from British Columbia were invited to complete a Disability Attitudes Implicit Association Test (DA-IAT) and participate in a semi-structured focus group centering on a fictionalized vignette about an adolescent with Down syndrome. We used pragmatism as an analytical paradigm. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze DA-IAT and sociodemographic data; phronetic iterative analysis with constant comparison as a coding strategy for transcripts; and interpretive description to develop a conceptual model. Twenty-two adolescents completed the DA-IAT and participated in one of four focus groups. Participants had a statistically significant implicit preference for non-disabled people (D-score = 0.72, SD = 0.44; t = 7.18, p < .00001). They demonstrated greater diversity in their explicit attitudes during the focus groups. Although participants articulated a positive attitude towardimproved genetics education, results demonstrate their belief that social and personal interactions with disabled peers would be essential to address negative perceptions. This study lays important groundwork to understand, explain, and influence the negative attitudes of adolescents towardindividuals with disabilities. Findings will be used to inform the design of interventions that address biased perceptions of people with genetic disorders, with the goal of reducing prejudices and improving social interactions.

Opposite perceptual biases in analogous auditory and visual tasks are unique to consonant–vowel strings and are unlikely a consequence of repetition

ABSTRACT Despite wide reporting of a right ear (RE) advantage on dichotic listening tasks and a right visual field (RVF) advantage on visual half-field tasks, we know very little about the relationship between these perceptual biases. Previous studies that have investigated perceptual asymmetries for analogous auditory and visual consonant–vowel tasks have indicated a serendipitous finding: a RE advantage and a left visual field (LVF) advantage with poor cross-modal correlations. In this study, we examined the possibility that this LVF advantage for visual processing of consonant–vowel strings may be a consequence of repetition by examining perceptual biases in analogous auditory and visual tasks for both consonant–vowel strings and words. We replicated opposite perceptual biases for consonant–vowel strings (RE and LVF advantages). This did not extend to word stimuli where we found RE and RVF advantages. Furthermore, these perceptual biases did not differ across the three experimental blocks. Thus, we can firmly conclude that this LVF advantage is unique to consonant–vowel strings and is not a consequence of the repetition of a relatively limited number of stimuli. Finally, a test of covariances indicated no cross-modal relationships between laterality indices suggesting that perceptual biases are dissociable within individuals and cluster on mode of presentation.

Investigating the Relationships Among HMP, Credibility, and TPP of News Media and Their Links to News Media Policy Support

Abstract Prior research has suggested that perceptions of bias, credibility, and influence of news media may relate to one another but there have been relatively few efforts to integrate these concepts under a coherent theoretical framework. Based on social identity theory, we examined whether political identity relates to hostile media perception (HMP), credibility, and third-person perception (TPP) and if such perceptions in tandem predict attitudes toward news media policies—restriction of news media and media literacy education, which may neutralize the influences of seemingly hostile and untrustworthy news media. Findings from two national online surveys showed that strong partisans tend to perceive stronger HMP and less credibility in news media. Additionally, progressives had greater HMP. HMP and TPP were positively associated with media restriction policy support and media literacy education support. Credibility showed negative associations with restrictive media policy support, whereas the opposite pattern was found in the relationship with media education support. Furthermore, the positive associations between HMP and media policy support were mediated by TPP. The negative associations between credibility and restrictive media policy support were also mediated by TPP.

Biases in hand perception are driven by somatosensory computations, not a distorted hand model

To sense and interact with objects in the environment, we effortlessly configure our fingertips at desired locations. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the underlying control mechanisms rely on accurate knowledge about the structure and spatial dimensions of our hand and fingers. This intuition, however, is challenged by years of research showing drastic biases in the perception of finger geometry.1,2,3,4,5 This perceptual bias has been taken as evidence that the brain's internal representation of the body's geometry is distorted,6 leading to an apparent paradox regarding the skillfulness of our actions.7 Here, we propose an alternative explanation of the biases in hand perception-they are the result of the Bayesian integration of noisy, but unbiased, somatosensory signals about finger geometry and posture. To address this hypothesis, we combined Bayesian reverse engineering with behavioral experimentation on joint and fingertip localization of the index finger. We modeled the Bayesian integration either in sensory or in space-based coordinates, showing that the latter model variant led to biases in finger perception despite accurate representation of finger length. Behavioral measures of joint and fingertip localization responses showed similar biases, which were well fitted by the space-based, but not the sensory-based, model variant. The space-based model variant also outperformed a distorted hand model with built-in geometric biases. In total, our results suggest that perceptual distortions of finger geometry do not reflect a distorted hand model but originate from near-optimal Bayesian inference on somatosensory signals.

Racial Bias in Pediatric Pain Perception

Racial disparities in pediatric pain care are prevalent across a variety of health care settings, and likely contribute to broader disparities in health, morbidity, and mortality. The present research expands on prior work demonstrating potential perceptual contributions to pain care disparities in adults and tests whether racial bias in pain perception extends to child targets. We examined the perception and hypothetical treatment of pain in Black and White boys (experiment 1), Black and White boys and girls (experiment 2), Black and White boys and adult men (experiment 3), and Black, White, Asian, and Latinx boys (experiment 4). Across this work, pain was less readily perceived on Black (vs White) boys’ faces—though this bias was not observed within girls. Moreover, this perceptual bias was comparable in magnitude to the same bias measured with adult targets and consistently predicted bias in hypothetical treatment. Notably, bias was not limited to Black targets—pain on Hispanic/Latinx boys’ faces was also relatively underperceived. Taken together, these results offer strong evidence for racial bias in pediatric pain perception. PerspectiveThis article demonstrates perceptual contributions to racial bias in pediatric pain recognition. Participants consistently saw pain less readily on Black boys’ faces, compared with White boys, and this perceptual bias consistently predicted race-based gaps in treatment. This work reveals a novel factor that may support pediatric pain care disparities.