Notational bias

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Notational bias is a form of cultural bias that is incurred when the available notation to describe something introduces a bias in our ability to approach it.

An example of this is the standard notation in Western sheet music, which offers limited ability to describe the melodies of the musical systems of various other cultures. A similar example are questionnaires with precoded responses, omitting potentially more appropriate responses.

Computer programming languages provide another example. Each programming language provides a notation which can introduce a bias in how problem solving is approached. For example, if a programming language makes it easy to notate a hash table then hash tables will likely feature in the programmer's mental articulation of the problem.