Cognitive Bias and Its Relationship with Fanatical Attitudes among Students of the College of Basic Education, University of Misan

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between cognitive bias and prejudiced attitudes among students of the College of Basic Education at the University of Misan, while simultaneously determining the level of each variable within the study sample. A descriptive correlational design was employed as the most appropriate framework for the nature of the research problem. The research population comprised all students enrolled in the college during the academic year 2024–2025. A stratified random sample of 300 male and female students was selected using equal allocation across four departments: Primary Grades Teacher, Arabic Language, Science, and Mathematics, with 75 participants from each department. Two validated instruments were administered: the Cognitive Bias Scale developed by Al-Tamimi (2021) and the Prejudiced Attitudes Scale developed by Abd Al-Rahman (2018). Both instruments were subjected to face validity verification and reliability assessment using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the test-retest method. Results revealed relatively high mean levels of cognitive bias (M=71.42) and prejudiced attitudes (M=69.15) among participants, along with a statistically significant positive correlation between the two variables (r=0.64, p<0.05). These findings indicate that students who demonstrate higher levels of cognitive bias tend to concurrently exhibit more pronounced prejudiced attitudes. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended integrating critical thinking and metacognitive awareness programmes into university curricula and developing targeted psychological counselling interventions designed to mitigate cognitive bias and reduce prejudiced orientations within the university environment.