Article about noticing only data that supports what you already believe. It's an effect often noted in people with superstitious/religious/non-sciencey beliefs, but everybody does this to some extent.
http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/postmonth/feb02.html
"Morton's demon was a demon who sat at the gate of my sensory input apparatus and if and when he saw supportive evidence coming in, he opened the gate. But if he saw contradictory data coming in, he closed the gate. In this way, the demon allowed me to believe that I was right and to avoid any nasty contradictory data. Fortunately, I eventually realized that the demon was there and began to open the gate when he wasn't looking."
Sunday, August 26, 2007
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