Suppose a group of people who oppose gun control is presented with research evidence that is ambiguous about how well gun-control legislation will deter crime.Some of the evidence suggests that such laws would reduce crime,whereas other evidence suggests it would be ineffective or even backfire.After reviewing the evidence,how will most people in the group react?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This group of people already opposes gun control, so when presented with ambiguous evidence, they are likely to interpret and remember the evidence in a way that confirms their existing beliefs. This is known as confirmation bias. Thus, they are likely to ignore or downplay evidence suggesting that gun control could be effective and emphasize evidence suggesting the opposite. This will likely make them even more strongly opposed to gun control legislation.

Suppose a Group of People Who Oppose Gun Control Is