A Realistic Review of Cognitive Biases in Governance Decisions

In contemporary politics, decision-making in governance is a challenging task. The most significant factor contributing to the difficulty of decision-making for rulers is the prevention of cognitive biases. This study aims to qualitatively analyze scientific articles related to this topic using a systematic realist review method, which involves examining structures, contexts, and consequences. In this regard, by searching for the term "cognitive bias" in the titles of articles and their substantive relevance to governance in reputable international and domestic databases, ۱۹ articles in English and Persian were identified based on the "PRISMA" criteria within the timeframe from July ۲۳ to August ۸, ۲۰۲۴. Based on the research findings, the scope of the impact of cognitive biases can be articulated within the stages of the decision-making process in governance. This includes the initial stage where rulers confront information and data (the input and engagement stage), followed by their calculations based on that data (the processing and calculation stage), and finally, the output of decisions and their implementation (the action and execution stage). The mechanisms underlying cognitive biases in specific contexts indicate that cognitive bias factors can arise from individual aspects such as beliefs and convictions, organizational matters like strategies and actions, and broader issues such as economy, politics, culture, nationality, and ethnicity, which serve as environmental factors influencing biases. The consequences of each of these factors vary according to their mechanisms and contexts.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cognitive Bias ، Governance ، Decision making ، Realist Systematic Review