newwebster - 1:29 am on Aug 10, 2005 (gmt 0)

Of course it can, and always does.

Well in a way you are correct. However, the bias is universal without exceptions. I.E. programming an algo to favor 32" waist jeans and apply more weight to ranking for instance. When was the last time you picked up 5 pairs of jeans each from different manufactures that all had the same inseam and waist identified, then tried them on and liked how all 5 of them looked and felt without a preference?

Subtle differences in the way a webpage is laid out or the way it appears can effect the physiological aspect of how it influences an editor.

Point is even with guidelines and rules for humans you are introducing unpredictable outcomes when you allow the psychological human make decisions such as this.