Confirmation bias in individual-level perceptions of psychic distance: An experimental investigation

Abstract

In this article we draw from social cognition theory to explore the influence of confirmation bias on perceptions of psychic distance. Despite the prominence of psychic distance, and other forms of distance, as potential predictor variables in international business (IB) research, very little work has been done exploring the factors and processes that shape a decision maker's perceptions of distance. We argue in this article that social cognition theory can help fill that void. Specifically, we hypothesize that confirmation bias may influence managers' processing of information concerning differences between cultures. Such a bias may cause managers to attend more to information that confirms..