Observation selection classified

Observation selection effects can be classified as follows:

Observation selection includes selection between observers and selection within observers.

Selection within observers could be further subcategorized into unconscious filtering and deliberative filtering.

Unconscious filtering has dynamic and static components. Static unconscious filtering includes perceptual limitations.

Selection of observations within observers is rarely seen in the context of observation selection - and it seems to be a neglected topic. Sometimes observation selection is used as a synonym of observer selection. This seems like bad terminology to me - it's important to distinguish between these different phenomena.

Examples

• The availability heuristic;
• Attention;
• Psychological disorders such as schizophrenia and ADHD can affect the brain's filtering mechanisms;
• Some types of drug can be used to disable some of the mind's perceptual filtering mechanisms;