Cognitive conservatism refers to what tendency in decision-making?

Cognitive conservatism describes the tendency to maintain existing beliefs or conclusions despite the availability of new evidence that contradicts those beliefs. This phenomenon occurs because individuals are often resistant to altering their preconceived notions, which can be due to a variety of psychological factors, including bias and the discomfort that comes with changing one's viewpoint.

In decision-making, cognitive conservatism can lead individuals to ignore, downplay, or rationalize conflicting information rather than re-evaluate their beliefs. This can hinder critical thinking and result in persistent adherence to incorrect conclusions, impacting both personal and professional decision-making processes. Understanding this tendency is crucial in communication research, as it highlights how biases can affect information processing and the interpretation of data.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of cognitive conservatism. Abandoning conclusions in light of new information aligns more with open-mindedness or adaptability, which is the opposite of cognitive conservatism. Inducing theories from data reflects a more exploratory approach to knowledge generation, while relying solely on quantitative data analysis does not directly relate to the concept of maintaining existing beliefs in the face of contradicting evidence.