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Patterns

Definition

Patterns refer to the perceived regularities or recurring sequences in data, events, or behaviors. They can be real and meaningful, but they can also be illusory or based on coincidence.

Analogy

Imagine you're at a high school football game, and you notice that every time the cheerleaders do a certain dance move, the home team scores a touchdown. You start thinking there's a pattern and that the dance move somehow brings good luck. However, in reality, it's just a coincidence because sometimes the team scores without that specific dance move.

Related terms

Confirmation Bias: This term refers to our tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs while ignoring evidence that contradicts them.

Illusory Correlation: It is when we mistakenly perceive a relationship between two variables when no actual association exists.

Randomness: Randomness describes situations where events occur without any discernible pattern or predictability.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.