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Hindsight Bias: An Impediment to Accurate Probability Estimation in Clinicopathologic Conferences

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  • Neal V. Dawson
  • Hal R. Arkes
  • Carl Siciliano
  • Richard Blinkhorn
  • Mark Lakshmanan
  • Mary Petrelli

Abstract

Although clinicopathologic conferences (CPCs) have been valued for teaching differential diagnosis, their instructional value may be compromised by hindsight bias. This bias occurs when those who know the actual diagnosis overestimate the likelihood that they would have been able to predict the correct diagnosis had they been asked to do so beforehand. Evidence for the presence of the hindsight bias was sought among 160 physicians and trainees attending four CPCs. Before the correct diagnosis was announced, half of the conference audience estimated the probability that each of five possible diagnoses was correct (foresight subjects). After the correct diagnosis was announced the remaining (hindsight) subjects estimated the probability they would have assigned to each of the five possible diagnoses had they been making the initial differential diagnosis. Only 30% of the foresight subjects ranked the correct diagnosis as first, versus 50% of the hindsight subjects (p

Suggested Citation

  • Neal V. Dawson & Hal R. Arkes & Carl Siciliano & Richard Blinkhorn & Mark Lakshmanan & Mary Petrelli, 1988. "Hindsight Bias: An Impediment to Accurate Probability Estimation in Clinicopathologic Conferences," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 8(4), pages 259-264, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:medema:v:8:y:1988:i:4:p:259-264
    DOI: 10.1177/0272989X8800800406
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas S. Wallsten, 1981. "Physician and Medical Student Bias in Evaluating Diagnostic Information," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 1(2), pages 145-164, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jay J.J. Christensen-Szalanski & Cynthia S. Fobian, 1988. "On the Significance of Judgment Studies," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 8(4), pages 265-267, December.
    2. Louie, Therese A., 2005. "Hindsight bias and outcome-consistent thoughts when observing and making service provider decisions," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 98(1), pages 88-95, September.
    3. Danz, David, 2020. "Never underestimate your opponent: Hindsight bias causes overplacement and overentry into competition," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 588-603.
    4. Cassar, Gavin & Craig, Justin, 2009. "An investigation of hindsight bias in nascent venture activity," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 149-164, March.

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