Interpretation Bias

Interpretation bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when a person interprets information subjectively, assigning it a meaning influenced by their own beliefs, experiences, expectations or perceptions. As a result, two people may interpret the same situation differently even when they have access to the same information.

In HR, this bias can occur when behaviours, responses, results or situations that require a certain degree of interpretation are assessed. Although the initial information may be objective, the way it is interpreted can be influenced by the expectations or perceptions of the person carrying out the assessment.

This bias can affect the objectivity of different people management processes. For example, a manager may interpret a person’s limited participation in meetings as a lack of initiative, when the same behaviour could be related to their communication style, level of trust in the team or the context of the meeting.