We unpack the continued influence effect—why wrong ideas and early takes often outlast the truth—and how it can quietly shape your team’s decisions long after the facts are corrected.

Why do people still believe a story even after it’s been proven wrong?

If you’ve ever run an A/B test that “failed” only to see the wrong lesson stick around for months, you’ve felt the continued influence effect in action. It’s that pesky bias where the first version of a story, whether true or not, keeps shaping behavior long after it’s been corrected.

In this episode, I share a story from my own work where a redesign underperformed in testing. Even though we learned valuable lessons and built a better version, the dominant narrative became “the test failed.” From planning sessions to hallway chatter, that early interpretation continued to influence how we thought and acted.

We’ll dig into the research behind this bias, how it shows up in everyday team dynamics, and practical steps you can take to keep outdated or misleading narratives from derailing your work. Listen in and learn how to replace sticky misinformation with better, more accurate stories your team will actually remember.

Topics:

• 00:00 - The Test Failed: A Case Study

• 01:38 - The Continued Influence Effect Explained

• 02:04 - A Familiar Story of Misinterpretation

• 04:12 - The Psychology Behind the Continued Influence Effect

• 05:40 - Real-World Implications and Examples

• 07:53 - Strategies to Combat the Continued Influence Effect

To explore more about the Continued Influence Effect, don’t miss the full article @ cognitioncatalog.com

Not all prejudice is loud or obvious. In this episode, we explore the quiet kind: the one that hides behind gut feelings and culture fit. We'll break down how implicit bias shapes team dynamics, hiring decisions, and everyday interactions, even in well-meaning workplaces.

What if the biggest barrier to equity on your team isn’t hate, but habit?

In this episode of the Cognition Catalog, we dig into the subtleties of prejudice that often hide in plain sight. These aren't the overt acts of hostility we usually associate with bias, but the quiet, unnoticed attitudes and assumptions that shape who gets hired, heard, and left behind.

We'll explore the nature of implicit prejudice, its impact on team dynamics, and how we can challenge and change these hidden biases to create fairer and more inclusive workplaces.

Tune in to learn actionable steps to recognize and interrupt these biases, ensuring we all contribute to a more equitable environment.

Topics:• 02:25 - A Personal Anecdote on Bias• 03:21 - Understanding Implicit Prejudice• 06:13 - The Science Behind Implicit Bias• 08:54 - Addressing and Mitigating Bias

To explore more about Prejudice, don’t miss the full article on the Cognition Catalog!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know when new episodes drop!

Join me every week for insights on a new cognitive bias!