As a doctorally prepared health care leader, you may attain a position of authority with the power to affect the health of clients, populations, and communities, as well as the lives of health care workers. Along with this power comes the responsibility to make wise, evidence-based decisions. Critical thinking (the ability and willingness to question every aspect of an idea—including your own ideas—without bias) can be a powerful tool to help you make better decisions.
Apply what you learned about critical thinking this week to address the following points in your discussion posting:
Find several definitions of “confirmation bias.” Begin your posting by quoting one of the definitions (and correctly citing it using APA style).
Paraphrase (and correctly cite) the article you read this week to help explain why it can be so difficult to avoid confirmation bias.
Provide an example from your own experience (preferably in a professional setting) in which you or someone you know made a decision based on confirmation bias.
In the example that you provided, what specific intellectual traits did you observe (in yourself and/or in others)? What intellectual traits could have been applied to avoid confirmation bias? (You may wish to review Traits of the Mind)
Explain how you aspire to apply critical thinking as a scholar-practitioner, in order to contribute to leadership and professional development in the field of health care.