Social Science

Cognitive Biases and Decision Making

1,880 Questions

Explore a curated set of questions on cognitive biases, decision making, and behavioral economics. These concepts evaluate how social norms, emotions, and heuristics influence human judgment and group behavior. Master these topics to build a strong foundation for psychology and social science exams.

Behavioral economicsSocial group influencesEmotional decision makingConfirmation bias

Cognitive Biases and Decision Making Questions

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the discrepancy between an individual's actual self and their ideal self?

  1. Self-Discrepancy

  2. Self-Esteem

  3. Self-Concept

  4. Self-Efficacy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Self-Discrepancy refers to the difference between an individual's actual self and their ideal self or ought self.

Multiple choice

Bias refers to the systematic favoritism of one group of students over another.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Bias is a serious problem in educational assessment. It can occur when an assessment is designed or administered in a way that favors one group of students over another. Bias can have a negative impact on the accuracy and fairness of an assessment.

Multiple choice

How does the despair of perfectionism impact an individual's ability to make decisions?

  1. It enhances decision-making by providing clear criteria.

  2. It hinders decision-making by creating a fear of making mistakes.

  3. It has no impact on decision-making.

  4. It improves decision-making by fostering a sense of urgency.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The despair of perfectionism can lead to a fear of making mistakes and a reluctance to take risks. Individuals may become paralyzed by the desire to make the perfect decision, leading to procrastination and indecision.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a type of self-deception?

  1. Ignorance

  2. Rationalization

  3. Projection

  4. Displacement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ignorance is not a type of self-deception, but rather a lack of knowledge or awareness.

Multiple choice

Projection is a type of self-deception in which we

  1. Attribute our own thoughts, feelings, and motives to others

  2. Deny our own thoughts, feelings, and motives

  3. Blame others for our own mistakes

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Projection is a type of self-deception in which we attribute our own thoughts, feelings, and motives to others.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to procrastinate on tasks that are unpleasant or challenging?

  1. Parkinson's Law

  2. The Zeigarnik Effect

  3. The Law of Least Effort

  4. The Procrastination Principle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Procrastination Principle states that people tend to procrastinate on tasks that they find unpleasant or challenging.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to overestimate the amount of time it will take to complete a task?

  1. The Planning Fallacy

  2. The Optimism Bias

  3. The Dunning-Kruger Effect

  4. The Confirmation Bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Planning Fallacy is the tendency to underestimate the amount of time it will take to complete a task. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and missed deadlines.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to focus on the most urgent tasks, even if they are not the most important?

  1. The Urgency Bias

  2. The Parkinson's Law

  3. The Zeigarnik Effect

  4. The Law of Least Effort
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Urgency Bias is the tendency to focus on the most urgent tasks, even if they are not the most important. This can lead to neglecting important tasks that are not as urgent.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to focus on the negative aspects of a situation, rather than the positive aspects?

  1. The Negativity Bias

  2. The Optimism Bias

  3. The Confirmation Bias

  4. The Dunning-Kruger Effect
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Negativity Bias is the tendency to focus on the negative aspects of a situation, rather than the positive aspects. This can lead to a pessimistic outlook on life and decreased motivation.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to underestimate the amount of time it will take to complete a task?

  1. The Planning Fallacy

  2. The Optimism Bias

  3. The Dunning-Kruger Effect

  4. The Confirmation Bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Optimism Bias is the tendency to underestimate the amount of time it will take to complete a task. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and missed deadlines.

Multiple choice

The tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their proximity is known as:

  1. Proximity

  2. Similarity

  3. Continuity

  4. Closure
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Proximity is the tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their proximity.

Multiple choice

The tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their similarity is known as:

  1. Similarity

  2. Proximity

  3. Continuity

  4. Closure
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Similarity is the tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their similarity.

Multiple choice

The tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their connectedness is known as:

  1. Continuity

  2. Proximity

  3. Similarity

  4. Closure
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Continuity is the tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their connectedness.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where people tend to remember positive events more easily than negative events?

  1. Positivity bias

  2. Negativity bias

  3. Memory bias

  4. Cognitive bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Positivity bias refers to the tendency for people to remember positive events more easily than negative events. This bias is thought to be due to a number of factors, including the fact that positive events are often more salient and easier to recall, and that people tend to focus on the positive aspects of their lives.

Multiple choice

Which theory suggests that our memories are not accurate representations of the past, but rather are reconstructed and revised over time?

  1. The reconstructive memory theory

  2. The schema theory

  3. The levels-of-processing theory

  4. The dual-coding theory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The reconstructive memory theory suggests that our memories are not accurate representations of the past, but rather are reconstructed and revised over time. This theory emphasizes the role of schemas, or mental frameworks, in shaping our memories. When we recall a memory, we do not simply retrieve a stored representation, but rather reconstruct it based on our current knowledge and beliefs.