Which statement about cognitive biases is true?

• A. They can skew data interpretation if not mitigated
• B. They always improve decisions
• C. They have no effect on conclusions
• D. They only affect non-technical investigations

Answer: (A)

Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of thinking that can distort how data is interpreted during an investigation. Even skilled investigators can fall into them, so actively mitigating bias is essential. In a mishap inquiry, biases can push you toward a favored explanation, make you overlook conflicting evidence, or give more weight to information that’s recent or memorable. For instance, sticking with an initial hypothesis (anchoring) can prevent considering other plausible causes; seeking data that confirms a belief (confirmation bias) can cause you to ignore disconfirming data; and the availability of dramatic or recent events can skew what seems most relevant.

That’s why the statement that biases can skew data interpretation if not mitigated is the accurate one. It’s not that biases always improve decisions—while they can speed things up in some cases, they often degrade quality by narrowing analysis. Biases do affect conclusions because the way you weigh and interpret data shapes the final judgment. And they aren’t limited to non-technical investigations; cognitive biases can influence any investigation, including technical aircraft mishap analyses.

Mitigation approaches include structured data collection, objective criteria, independent reviews, checklists, documentation of reasoning, and quantification where possible, all to keep interpretation aligned with the evidence.