This is not to say that optimism bias cannot exist in the real world, but that new improved methods are needed. Lead researcher, Jason Burton, from Birkbeck said: "Our experiments show that the method commonly used to evidence such optimism is flawed, giving rise to 'optimistic' belief updating where optimism is not possible. In this new study, published this week in the journal Cognition, the researchers tested the same 'update method' but removed the emotional element, using neutral examples such as participants estimating the chances of the next passing car being the colour black.ĭespite changing the examples and removing the emotional elements, the same optimistic pattern was observed, leading researchers to challenge the validity of the methods using in research claiming to prove optimism bias. Typically, this has been done with negative life events, like contracting a disease or getting a divorce - bad news cases that would elicit a strong emotional response. ![]() This methodology - known as 'the update method' - has participants estimate their chance of experiencing a life event and then re-estimate it after being provided with the average person's actual chance of experiencing the event. The researchers conducted several experiments using a methodology that has been widely accepted in past optimism research. According to the authors, prior studies have generated 'false positives' - data patterns that look like people are being over-optimistic, where no such bias exists. However, a new study by researchers at the University of Bath, UCL, and Birkbeck, University of London, demonstrates flaws in research supporting the existence of optimism bias. while overestimating their chances of positive events.This over-optimistic tendency is taken into account by the UK government when planning large infrastructure projects. ![]() For decades scientists have believed that people have an 'irrational optimism bias' - they look too much to the bright side and underestimate their chances of negative experiences.
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