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Patreon at SXSW: 5 Issues We Discovered about Preventing Bias with Content material

February 1, 2022

Ever felt such as you’re affected by determination fatigue? You’re not alone; some specialists estimate that our brains common round 35,000 choices a day. With ideas firing and circulating in our minds, it’s not that shocking that the psychological shortcuts our brains take can result in cognitive bias.

Within the SXSW session, “How You Can Combat Bias with Content material Technique,” David Dylan Thomas of Suppose Firm, shared some shocking details on how our cognitive biases seep into the whole lot we create – even our content material.

So what’s a cognitive bias?

Cognitive bias a scientific error in reasoning, evaluating, predicting, or remembering. It’s outlined as systematic as a result of it’s automated and unintentional; it’s additionally outlined as inaccurate as a result of it defies logic in favor of our personal experiences and views. Or, a better strategy to describe cognitive bias is a shortcut you make in your thoughts that usually instances helps… however typically hurts.

So, for creators, the query is: how can these psychological shortcuts affect your inventive work?

Listed below are 5 issues to bear in mind about preventing bias on the subject of content material:

  1. If it’s simple to learn, we expect it’s true (does “if it doesn’t match, you need to acquit” ring a bell?). And if it rhymes, it’s much more seemingly we see it as truth. That’s the affect of cognitive fluency on the subject of content material technique, so make you’re your phrases match the message you really need to convey.

  2. When creating content material it’s sensible to interrupt issues down into classes of sign vs. noise to keep away from cognitive bias. An instance of sign vs. noise could be evaluating somebody for a place, the sign may very well be outlined as expertise and {qualifications}, the noise may very well be described as gender and race.

  3. More often than not we don’t even know why we’re making the selections we’re making due to our innate cognitive biases. Our views, experiences, and inclinations play a giant function in what we resolve to do, which makes it essential to continually examine ourselves on the subject of why we resolve to create sure content material.

  4. Once you create one thing or write one thing, it’s a terrific concept to have somebody with a unique perspective (who hasn’t been concerned in your mission) overview it for bias. Consider it as ‘pink crew’ and ‘blue crew’ if ‘pink crew’ writes up a content material technique, have ‘blue crew’ who hasn’t been concerned within the ideation examine it for bias.

  5. When customers see your copy as simple to learn, they imagine the method related to the content material is straightforward as properly. The identical rings true if the content material appears to be like tough to learn, they’ll imagine the method is tough. That is essential to bear in mind when writing content material copy or documentation.

So, how will we keep away from bias?

A good way to keep away from bias is by implementing the scientific technique to your content material. Systematic statement, measurement, and experimentation not solely make sure you optimize your content material to achieve your required outcomes, but it surely additionally makes it much less seemingly that bias seeps by way of.

Consciousness is the reply

So, what was our largest takeaway from the session? It isn’t at all times simple, however consciousness of and the need to work on our innate biases can rework the best way we create. Being extra conscious offers us the chance to make inclusive content material that reaches and resonates with our complete viewers.

Able to be taught much more methods you’ll be able to create inclusive and impactful content material? Request an invitation and be a part of us at our Home of Creativity the place we’ll be internet hosting classes on impactful social change, methods for participating along with your group, and letting how one can use your platform for good. Can’t wait to be taught with you, see you there!