What term refers to exposure to irrelevant information that biases assessment findings?

The correct term that refers to exposure to irrelevant information that biases assessment findings is known as psychological contamination. This phenomenon occurs when an individual's judgment or assessment is influenced by extraneous or unrelated factors, thereby affecting the accuracy of their evaluation. This can happen in various contexts, such as in interviews, performance appraisals, or testing scenarios, where outside information unintentionally colors a person's perception or decision-making process.

Psychological contamination emphasizes the impact of non-relevant information, which can lead to skewed results and misrepresentations of actual capabilities or performance. Recognizing this bias is essential in order to minimize its effects and ensure more objective assessments.

Cognitive overload, while related to information processing, specifically refers to the strain caused by too much information that an individual cannot effectively manage, rather than the influence of irrelevant information. Contextual bias is closer in meaning, as it deals with how context shapes judgments, but it does not directly encapsulate the idea of irrelevant information. Information distortion generally implies a change or alteration in the information itself, rather than an external influence leading to biased judgment.