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WHAT IS A BIAS?

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Bias

  • Bias - Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
  • They can be assumptions formed by, favoritism, prejudice or preference

  • SIMPLE DEFINITION - Unfairly showing favoritism towards something or someone.

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Terrorist / Terrorism

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Boss

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Bias

  • We all have biases and act from these biases in unconscious ways.
  • These bias’s are formed by our experiences and environments
  • The more open we know about bias, the more we can overcome biases.
  • This does not make us “bad” people.

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Social Media and Bias

  • Echo Chamber: An online space where you mostly see ideas and opinions that match your own.
  • Social media algorithms often show you more of what you already like, follow, or agree with.
  • This can reinforce bias because:
    • You see only one side of an issue.
    • Opposing viewpoints are ignored or misrepresented.
    • Opinions start to feel like “facts” because everyone in your feed agrees.

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Spotting Bias in Writing or Speech

  • Look for:
    • Words that show judgment (best, worst, ridiculous, stupid)
    • Missing perspectives or opposing views
    • Overgeneralizations (always, never, everyone, nobody)
    • Emotional or exaggerated claims

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Where Can Bias Be Found?

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TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY

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Favorable and Unfavorable

  • A favorable bias is a tendency to perceive or judge something in a more positive view
  • An unfavorable bias is a tendency to perceive or judge something in a more negative view

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What is biased language and what is not?

  • Not biased, just an objective observation:

Frank spends very little money.

  • Biased favorably:   Frank is thrifty.

  • Biased unfavorably:  Frank is  a cheapskate.

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Alex – Cell Phone

  • Alex uses her cell phone for various purposes, including communication and entertainment.

  • Biased favorably:   Alex uses her cell phone responsibly to communicate with friends. She limits her use to maintain a healthy digital balance.�
  • Biased unfavorably:  Alex is glued to her cell phone, neglecting real-world interactions and responsibilities.

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Jessica - Friends

  • Jessica maintains a small group of close friends while being friendly with others.

  • Biased favorably:  Jessica has a small, close-knit group of friends who support each other unconditionally.

  • Biased unfavorably: Jessica barely has any friends and struggles making new friends.

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Emma - Sports

  • Emma is overly focused on sports, neglecting her other responsibilities and interests. (Favorable or Unfavorable)

  • Emma is dedicated to her sports training, showing great commitment and passion for her chosen activity. (Favorable or Unfavorable)

How could you say this in a neutral (unbiased) way?

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Can bias be found in the news?

Consider these two sentences in a news story:

1. “A crowd of more than 900 attended the protest.”

2. “Fewer than 1,000 showed up to protest.”

How could you say this in a neutral (unbiased) way?

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Let’s Add Unfavorable Bias

  • The basketball team won five games this season.

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Let’s Add Favorable Bias

  • The school has a dress code policy.