Which hypothesis suggests that patterns of information can affect a person's perceptions or actions?

The hypothesis that suggests that patterns of information can affect a person's perceptions or actions is expectation bias. This concept implies that individuals' expectations can shape their experiences and interpretations. When a person has a particular expectation, they are likely to focus on information that confirms that expectation while disregarding information that contradicts it. Consequently, this can lead to skewed perceptions and decisions based on preconceived notions rather than objective reality.

Expectation bias is particularly relevant in various contexts, including scientific research, where a researcher’s expectations may inadvertently influence the outcome, as well as in social interactions where an individual’s assumptions about another’s behavior can affect how they respond or engage. This connection emphasizes the power of cognitive frameworks in shaping our understanding and reactions to the world around us.

Other options like role effect, motivational bias, and reconstructive effects address different aspects of how context or psychological factors influence behavior, but they do not specifically highlight the influence of preconceived patterns of information on perception in the same way that expectation bias does.