Bias in Semantic and Discourse Interpretation

TL;DR

This paper presents a game-theoretic framework combined with discourse structure theory to analyze interpretive bias in communication, highlighting its role in learning, understanding, and potential manipulation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework integrating game theory and discourse analysis to study interpretive bias, offering new tools for understanding its causes and effects.

Findings

Framework effectively models interpretive bias

Identifies factors influencing bias formation

Provides analytical tools for bias assessment

Abstract

In this paper, we show how game-theoretic work on conversation combined with a theory of discourse structure provides a framework for studying interpretive bias. Interpretive bias is an essential feature of learning and understanding but also something that can be used to pervert or subvert the truth. The framework we develop here provides tools for understanding and analyzing the range of interpretive biases and the factors that contribute to them.