SYNONYMS FOR bias 1 predisposition, preconception, predilection, partiality, proclivity; bent, leaning.

Bias means that a person prefers an idea and possibly does not give equal chance to a different idea. Bias can be influenced by a number of factors, such as popularity (for example, a newspaper might be biased towards a particular political party due to their employees sharing the same political beliefs as that party).

Bias is a disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing, usually in a way that is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair. Biases can be innate or learned. People may develop biases for or against an individual, a group, or a belief.

“Unfair prejudice” within its context means an undue tendency to suggest decision on an improper basis, commonly, though not necessarily, an emotional one. The rule does not enumerate surprise as a ground for exclusion, in this respect following Wigmore’s view of the common law.

Biased tendencies can also affect our professional lives. They can influence actions and decisions such as whom we hire or promote, how we interact with persons of a particular group, what advice we consider, and how we conduct performance evaluations. Again, bias awareness can help you make fair business decisions.

It is easy to have your memory influenced by what you hear about the event from others. Knowledge of this effect has led to a mistrust of eyewitness information. Optimism bias: This bias leads you to believe that you are less likely to suffer from misfortune and more likely to attain success than your peers.

Bias can damage research, if the researcher chooses to allow his bias to distort the measurements and observations or their interpretation. When faculty are biased about individual students in their courses, they may grade some students more or less favorably than others, which is not fair to any of the students.

Information that is biased or incorrect loses its value. When information has no value, it is of no use to us. We need to be able to distinguish between information that is valuable (of use to us) and that which is not.

Sampling bias occurs when some members of a population are systematically more likely to be selected in a sample than others. Sampling bias limits the generalizability of findings because it is a threat to external validity, specifically population validity.

If you notice the following, the source may be biased:

1. Heavily opinionated or one-sided.
2. Relies on unsupported or unsubstantiated claims.
3. Presents highly selected facts that lean to a certain outcome.
4. Pretends to present facts, but offers only opinion.
5. Uses extreme or inappropriate language.