The Influence of Prior Beliefs on Scientific Judgments of Evidence Quality

Organizational Behavior & Human Decision Processes, Vol. 56, p. 28, 1993

28 Pages Posted: 9 Sep 2009

Date Written: September 1, 1993

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the influence of scientists’ prior beliefs on their judgments of evidence quality. A laboratory experiment using advanced graduate students in the sciences (study 1) and an experimental survey of practicing scientists on opposite sides of a controversial issue (study 2) revealed agreement effects. Research reports that agreed with scientists’ prior beliefs were judged to be of higher quality than those that disagreed. In study 1, a prior belief strength X agreement interaction was found, indicating that the agreement effect was larger for general, evaluative judgments than for more specific, analytical judgments. A Bayesian analysis indicates that the pattern of agreement effects found in these studies may be normatively defensible, although arguments against implementing a Bayesian approach to scientific judgment are also advanced.

Keywords: Prior belief, judgment, Bayesian

Suggested Citation

Koehler, Jonathan J., The Influence of Prior Beliefs on Scientific Judgments of Evidence Quality (September 1, 1993). Organizational Behavior & Human Decision Processes, Vol. 56, p. 28, 1993, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1469652

Jonathan J. Koehler (Contact Author)

Northwestern University - Pritzker School of Law ( email )

375 E. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
United States

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