#95 The Surprising Reason You Might Be a Terrible Teacher
Think you're good at explaining things?
You might be surprised. The Knowledge Bias can trip up even the best communicators. Learn how to avoid this common trap and become a more effective teacher, leader, and colleague.
IN TODAY’S ARTICLE:
1. The Knowledge Bias
2. Reinforce What You Learn
3. Recommended Critical Thinking Books
4. Next Friday: #96 The Streetlight Effect Bias
5. The Other 94 Cognitive Biases Covered On The Way to 200!
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1. THE KNOWLEDGE BIAS??
??Understanding | ??Harmful Effects | ??Susceptibility | ??Avoiding | ??Benefiting
??UNDERSTANDING THE KNOWLEDGE BIAS??
It's a common cognitive bias where you overestimate others' understanding because you're already familiar with a topic. This can lead to miscommunication and frustration since you might leave out crucial information or use jargon that others don't understand. It's like trying to teach someone to ride a bike without realizing they've never even seen one before!
Going Deeper:
The knowledge bias (also called the curse of knowledge) was first formally identified and named by economists Colin Camerer, George Loewenstein, and Martin Weber in their 1989 paper "The Curse of Knowledge in Economic Settings: An Experimental Analysis." They conducted research at the University of Pennsylvania where they studied how being informed affected people's ability to predict others' judgments.
However, earlier research had touched on similar concepts. Elizabeth Newton's 1990 Stanford University doctoral dissertation provided one of the most famous studies demonstrating this bias, though it was conducted around the same time period. Her "tappers and listeners" experiment powerfully illustrated how people who know something struggle to imagine what it's like not to know it.
In "tappers and listeners" study, Newton divided participants into two groups: tappers and listeners. Here's what happened:
Tappers were given a list of well-known songs, like "Happy Birthday" or "The Star-Spangled Banner." Their task was to tap out the rhythm of these songs on a table while listeners tried to guess which song was being tapped.
Before they started tapping, Newton asked the tappers to predict how often they thought listeners would correctly identify the songs. The tappers predicted that listeners would guess correctly about 50% of the time.
The actual results were striking - listeners only identified the correct song 2.5% of the time (that's just 3 songs out of 120 tries!).
What makes this study so powerful is that it perfectly illustrates the knowledge bias. The tappers could hear the melody playing clearly in their heads while they tapped, making it impossible for them to imagine what it was like for the listeners who could only hear seemingly random taps. They were "cursed" by their knowledge of the song, unable to set aside what they knew to understand the listener's perspective.
Examples of the Knowledge bias:
1?? ACADEMIC INSISTENCE
An academic only considers their area of expertise as valid, ignoring or belittling insights from other disciplines.
2?? WORKPLACE EXPERTISE
A seasoned manager dismisses suggestions from newer employees, believing they lack sufficient understanding to contribute.
3?? TECH SAVVY
A person who is highly skilled in technology refuses help, thinking they know more than customer support.
4??ARENTAL AUTHORITY
A parent believes they know what’s best for their child and overlooks the child’s opinions and perspectives.
5?? MEDICAL EXPERTISE
A doctor overlooks patient concerns, thinking their medical expertise is sufficient without considering the patient’s perspective.
6??SPORTS KNOWLEDGE
A fan insists on their perspective about a game strategy despite differing opinions from others.
??HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THE KNOWLEDGE BIAS
Knowledge bias can be harmful because it restricts learning and creates conflict by dismissing other perspectives. Over time, this can hinder personal growth, collaboration, and accurate decision-making.
Here are three potential negative consequences:
1?? WORKPLACE DIVIDE
A manager’s knowledge bias leads to lack of innovation as employees feel discouraged from contributing ideas.
2?? FAMILY STRAIN
A parent’s insistence on knowing best creates tension with their child, affecting trust and communication.
3?? MEDICAL MISUNDERSTANDING
A doctor’s dismissive attitude toward a patient’s concerns can lead to incomplete understanding and inaccurate diagnoses.
???MOST SUSCEPTIBLE: ARE YOU PRONE TO THE KNOWLEDGE BIAS?
People who are highly confident in their field, long-time experts, or people who value certainty are often more susceptible to knowledge bias.
Here are examples of the top three characteristics of people most prone to the bias:
1?? EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS
Long-time professionals may feel they’ve “seen it all” and resist new perspectives.
2?? SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
Specialists in a specific area might see outside opinions as inferior or uninformed.
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3?? SELF-RELIANT INDIVIDUALS
Self-sufficient people might resist external advice, trusting only their own knowledge.
??WAYS TO AVOID THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THE KNOWLEDGE BIAS
To avoid knowledge bias, it’s crucial to practice openness, ask questions, and seek feedback from others regularly. A willingness to learn can help people expand their knowledge and understand different perspectives.
Examples and resources for developing skills to avoid the Knowledge Bias:
1?? SEEKING FEEDBACK
Regularly seeking feedback from peers helps counteract one’s own knowledge bias.
"Thanks for the Feedback" by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen:
This book focuses on receiving and giving feedback effectively. Since seeking feedback is key to overcoming the knowledge bias, this book provides practical strategies for making the most of feedback conversations. It helps you understand how to ask for feedback in a way that encourages honest responses and how to be more receptive to what others have to say.
2?? CONTINUOUS LEARNING
Engaging in courses or seminars outside one’s field can keep knowledge bias in check.
"Made to Stick" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath:
This book dives deep into how to communicate ideas effectively. It explores the principles of making ideas memorable and understandable, which is crucial for overcoming the curse of knowledge. They use real-world examples to show how to package information in a way that resonates with your audience, regardless of their background knowledge.
3?? PRACTICING HUMILITY
Humility in conversations helps acknowledge that one’s knowledge has limits.
"Mindset" by Carol Dweck:
Dweck explores the power of mindset and how a growth mindset, where you believe abilities can be developed, is essential for learning and improvement. By embracing a growth mindset, you become more open to new information and perspectives, which can help you challenge your own assumptions and avoid the knowledge bias.
??What's the most unexpected or eye-opening moment when you realized your expertise was actually making it harder to communicate with others?
??USE THE KNOWLEDGE BIAS FOR GOOD
By using knowledge bias responsibly, people can improve teamwork, family dynamics, and mutual understanding. With a balanced approach, knowledge sharing can be enriching without shutting down others' viewpoints.
Here are three examples of how to use the bias ethically:
1?? TEAM GUIDANCE
When someone experienced in their field uses knowledge bias responsibly, they can share insights to mentor and guide colleagues rather than dominate discussions. This approach can support team development and build others’ expertise without stifling new ideas.
How To: Encourage a collaborative mentoring approach where both mentor and mentee contribute ideas. During meetings, allow the mentor to share structured feedback but also encourage contributions from everyone, creating an atmosphere of mutual learning.
2?? EDUCATIONAL GROWTH
Parents who approach knowledge bias with balance can share valuable life lessons and wisdom, all while remaining open to their children’s views. This creates a respectful learning environment that strengthens family trust and communication. Knowledge shared in an encouraging way builds a foundation for children to develop their own informed opinions and understanding.
How To: Make story-sharing interactive by inviting children to add their thoughts, questions, or creative twists to each story. This way, parents and children both learn and feel heard, nurturing a sense of curiosity and shared learning.
3?? MEDICAL EMPATHY
Healthcare providers can use knowledge bias ethically to balance expertise with empathy. By listening first to a patient’s description of their symptoms and then carefully offering informed guidance, the doctor ensures patients feel respected and involved in their care. This approach fosters a more collaborative, trust-filled patient-doctor relationship, enhancing treatment outcomes.
How To: Start each consultation by encouraging patients to fully share their health concerns before providing a professional opinion. Listening thoroughly before advising helps patients feel valued and often reveals critical details that aid diagnosis.
??What's the most unexpected or eye-opening moment when you realized your expertise was actually making it harder to communicate with others?
2. REINFORCE WHAT YOU LEARNED
???Glance Over the Poem
Boundaries of Knowledge
Though I think I know so well,
There’s much beyond my mental shell.
To learn and grow, to see things wide,
I’ll ask for help and set aside my pride.
3. RECOMMENDED CRITICAL THINKING BOOKS
4. ???UP NEXT: #96 The Streetlight Effect Bias
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5. COGNITIVE BIASES WE'VE COVERED (SO FAR)
Find them here:
Managing Consultant: Inpatient/Outpatient CDI
3 周Sometimes you absolutely have to hear something and then step back and think we get called SME’s but again are we being optimal !!!
Knowledge Without Action is Wasted Potential
3 周My key takeaway from researching the Knowledge bias for this article: True knowledge is shown by the clarity with which it’s shared.