Case file
Information Bias
- Filed under
- Need To Act Fast
The charge
We seek more information even when it is unlikely to improve the decision.
How it operates
Gathering information feels productive and protective, while deciding under uncertainty feels uncomfortable.
Logged incidents
- Incident 01
A PM runs more interviews after the pattern is already clear.
- Incident 02
An M&A team asks for extra diligence that will not change the go or no-go decision.
- Incident 03
A manager keeps collecting candidate signals instead of making the hire.
What to watch for
It often appears when research continues without a clear trigger for action. Ask: 'What specific decision would this new information change?'
Recommended action
Do a value-of-information check and set a stopping rule before collecting more data.
Known associates
- Ambiguity EffectWe avoid options when the odds, rules, or outcome distributions are unclear, even if the expected payoff may…
- Belief BiasWe judge an argument by whether we like its conclusion, not by whether its logic is sound.
- Rhyme-as-Reason EffectStatements that rhyme are judged as more truthful or wise than equivalent non-rhyming statements.
- Law of TrivialityGroups spend disproportionate time on easy, low-stakes details and too little on hard, high-stakes issues.
- Conjunction FallacyWe judge a detailed, specific scenario as more likely than a broader, simpler one that actually contains it.
- Occam's RazorWe can overprefer the simplest explanation or plan because simplicity feels elegant and manageable, even when…
Source of record