Question 1

Thomas Curwen of the Los Angeles Times spent three years reporting and writing about a woman with:

Accepted Answer

Thomas Curwen of the Los Angeles Times spent three years reporting and writing about a woman with a facial disfigurement.

Question 2

What is the term used to describe techniques to reduce or eliminate distortions or errors in thinking and judgment?

Accepted Answer

Debiasing refers to the methods used to reduce biases in judgment and decision-making, aiming to minimize errors and distortions in thinking.

Question 3

Research indicates that automatic (as in instant and unintentional) stereotypes and prejudice are controllable.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that although automatic stereotypes and prejudice can be activated instantly and unintentionally, individuals can exert control over the influence of these biases on their behavior and judgments through various strategies, such as being motivated to respond without prejudice and engaging in perspective-taking.

Question 4

Which of the following factors may encourage journalists' unbiased thought and behavior?

Accepted Answer

All of the listed factors can influence journalists to maintain unbiased thought and behavior. Social norms within a newsroom, critical feedback from sources, the social context including concerns about reputation, and personal motivation to adhere to journalistic integrity and ethics all play roles in encouraging unbiased reporting.

Question 5

Countering or correcting biases about others is fairly simple and low-effort and works every time, once you know the right tools to use.

Accepted Answer

Countering or correcting biases is a complex process that requires ongoing effort, self-reflection, and education. Biases are deeply ingrained and can be unconscious, making them challenging to identify and change. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and effectiveness can vary greatly among individuals and contexts.

Question 6

What is crowdsourcing in a journalistic context?

Accepted Answer

Crowdsourcing in journalism refers to the process where journalists or media outlets gather information, news tips, or content contributions from the general public or a large group of people, leveraging their collective knowledge and resources.

Question 7

An example of a cognitive debiasing strategy is:

Accepted Answer

All the options listed are examples of cognitive debiasing strategies. "Consider the opposite" and "perspective taking" involve actively thinking about situations or decisions from different viewpoints, which can help counteract one's initial biases. "Consider any alternative" encourages looking beyond the first solution that comes to mind, which can mitigate the anchoring bias. "Training" can encompass various methods designed to increase awareness of biases and improve decision-making processes.

Question 8

Which of the items below is an example of motivational debiasing?

Accepted Answer

C) is an example of motivational debiasing because it involves actively seeking to correct biases by relying on more individualized information, thus aiming to improve decision-making processes.

Question 9

One motivational debiasing strategy is to avoid information that might bias judgment. Some scholars call this:

Accepted Answer

The answer of One motivational debiasing strategy is to avoid...

Question 10

To consider the opposite and to consider any alternative to a story hypothesis are effective because these techniques:

Accepted Answer

Considering the opposite and considering alternatives to a story hypothesis open the mind to new information by encouraging the exploration of different perspectives and possibilities, which can lead to a more thorough understanding and analysis of the situation.

Quiz 10: Addressing Negativity