People want to believe a conspiracy because it reinforces their worldview
I did not expect them to be so ready to state that people agree with them. I thought that they would overestimate, but I didn't think that there'd be such a strong sense that they are in the majority.
In 2015, Pennycook made headlines when he co-authored a paper demonstrating how certain people interpret "pseudo-profound bullshit" as deep observations
To be fair, the person doing the observing and the analysis shouldn’t be so biased. You don’t start a study with your thumb on the scale.
Much like the conspiracy theorists, Pennycook obviously has his own model of the world. One that’s shamelessly subjective and fueled by self-gaslighting. Someone in Pennycook’s position should know better; and the media should be more transparent about such shortcomings.
The irony would be funny if it wasn’t so embarrassing.
Comments
To be fair, the person doing the observing and the analysis shouldn’t be so biased. You don’t start a study with your thumb on the scale.
Much like the conspiracy theorists, Pennycook obviously has his own model of the world. One that’s shamelessly subjective and fueled by self-gaslighting. Someone in Pennycook’s position should know better; and the media should be more transparent about such shortcomings.
The irony would be funny if it wasn’t so embarrassing.