Discussion Questions

•  What is the main point that the article makes when it comes to bias?

•  What do the authors take bias to be?

Bias Module•  We aren’t going to solve this problem.

•  We will brainstorm and assess some possible solutions.

•  Primarily work to highlight the problem of bias for critical thinking in order to cultivate a better understanding of it.

What is bias?

“cut on the bias”

“bias of the bowl”

“roll along the bias”

What is bias?•  Statistical bias: problem with data production,

sampling, or analysis o  Selection bias o  Funding bias

•  Cognitive bias: problem with how we think o  Confirmation bias:

•  Information that corroborates your theories or beliefs is sought out or emphasized

•  Information that contradicts your theories or beliefs is ignored or deemphasized.

What is bias?•  Something negative

o  Gets in the way of: •  Knowing •  Making good arguments •  Treating people well

•  Related to, but not synonymous with, prejudice or bigotry

•  Not reducible to ignorance

•  Involves making judgements o  Typically normative

•  Learned & habitual

What is bias?

•  Not all predispositions for or against something are instances of bias. o  E.g., cream cheese frosting

•  Not all partial (as opposed to impartial) positions are instances of bias. o  E.g., personal experience of synesthesia

What is bias?

•  What it is: learned “habits” of judging others that get in the way of knowing, making good arguments, and treating people well

•  What it’s NOT: simple ignorance, predispositions, partiality, reducible to overt prejudice or bigotry

Explicit vs. Implicit•  Airbnb Case Study:

o  asks users to post photos and provide their real names

o  Airbnb strongly believes that profile photos and real names are important to build trust between guests and hosts

o  a study uncovered widespread discrimination against black guests

o  nearly every kind of host implicated (except black women with black female guests)

o  findings are in line with the degree of racial discrimination found in other studies about the American populace more broadly

Explicit vs. Implicit

•  Explicit bias: a host who consciously thinks to themselves or expresses openly that they do not want to rent to blacks

•  Implicit bias: a host who thinks or says that they would rent to anyone regardless of race BUT who doesn’t actually rent to blacks either at all or less frequently than to whites

Explicit vs. Implicit

•  Question: Who’s the best candidate to be my guest?

•  Explanatory argument: P1: I will rent to whomever seems the most trustworthy. P2: My options are guests A & B. P3: A seems to be the most trustworthy. C: I will rent to A.

Explicit vs. ImplicitUnpacking the argument contained in P3:

P1: A and B both have lots of great reviews from former hosts. P2: A and B both responded very quickly to my emails. (Etc.) P3*: A is white and white people are more trustworthy. P4*: B is black and black people are less trustworthy. C: A seems to be the most trustworthy.

Airbnb’s Proposed Solution“We’re asking everyone to agree to a Community Commitment...What is the Community Commitment?You commit to treat everyone—regardless of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or age—with respect, and without judgment or bias.What if I decline the Community Commitment?If you decline the commitment, you won’t be able to host or book using Airbnb, and you have the option to cancel your account. Once your account is canceled, future booked trips will be canceled. You will still be able to browse Airbnb but you won’t be able to book any reservations or host any guests.”