Google Data Analytics Professional Certification Practice Test

Which of the following biases involves interpreting ambiguous situations in a positive or negative manner?

1. Interpretation Bias

2. Confirmation Bias

3. Data Ownership

4. GDPR

The correct answer is: Confirmation Bias

The choice that describes the tendency to interpret ambiguous situations in a positive or negative manner is interpretation bias. This bias occurs when individuals assess situations based on their preconceptions or emotional states, leading them to interpret information in a way that aligns with their existing beliefs or feelings. For example, someone in a good mood may view an ambiguous comment as a compliment, while someone who is feeling down might interpret the same comment as a slight. Confirmation bias, on the other hand, involves favoring information that confirms one’s existing beliefs or hypotheses rather than seeking information that could challenge or disprove them. This is distinct from interpretation bias, as it relates more to how evidence is selected and processed, rather than the way ambiguous situations are perceived. Data ownership refers to the legal rights and responsibilities associated with data, predominantly concerning who has control over data and how it can be used, without having a bearing on the interpretation of ambiguous scenarios. GDPR stands for the General Data Protection Regulation, which is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy, and it also does not relate to interpreting situations positively or negatively. Therefore, interpretation bias is the concept best aligned with the idea of interpreting situations in a biased manner, making it the correct answer to the question.