Social Science

Cognitive Biases and Decision Making

1,902 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

The tendency to perceive objects in a way that is consistent with our expectations and beliefs is known as:

  1. Perceptual constancy

  2. Illusion

  3. Hallucination

  4. Confirmation bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Confirmation bias is the tendency to perceive objects in a way that is consistent with our expectations and beliefs. Perceptual constancy, illusions, and hallucinations are all related to perception, but they do not involve the influence of expectations and beliefs.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a cognitive bias that can influence perception?

  1. Perceptual constancy

  2. Illusion

  3. Hallucination

  4. Confirmation bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Confirmation bias is an example of a cognitive bias that can influence perception. Perceptual constancy, illusions, and hallucinations are all related to perception, but they are not cognitive biases.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a bottom-up factor influencing attention?

  1. Stimulus intensity

  2. Past experiences

  3. Context

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

Bottom-up factors are stimulus-driven and include characteristics of the stimulus itself, such as its intensity, size, and color. Stimulus intensity is an example of a bottom-up factor that can influence attention.

Multiple choice

Which concept refers to the tendency for people to perceive their personal space as an extension of themselves?

  1. Territoriality

  2. Personal Space

  3. Proxemics

  4. Body Buffer Zone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Personal Space is the concept that refers to the tendency for people to perceive their personal space as an extension of themselves.

Multiple choice

Which concept refers to the tendency for people to form emotional attachments to places?

  1. Place Attachment

  2. Topophilia

  3. Sense of Place

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

Place Attachment is the concept that refers to the tendency for people to form emotional attachments to places.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to favor immediate rewards over long-term rewards?

  1. Hyperbolic Discounting

  2. Framing Effect

  3. Anchoring Bias

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

Hyperbolic Discounting refers to the tendency for individuals to place a higher value on immediate rewards compared to future rewards, even if the future rewards are objectively more valuable.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias leads individuals to rely heavily on the first piece of information they receive when making a decision?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Framing Effect

  3. Anchoring Bias

  4. Availability Heuristic
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Anchoring Bias occurs when individuals use an initial piece of information as a reference point and make subsequent judgments relative to that reference point, even if the initial information is irrelevant or misleading.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to make decisions based on easily accessible information, even if it is not necessarily relevant or accurate?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Framing Effect

  3. Anchoring Bias

  4. Availability Heuristic
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Availability Heuristic refers to the tendency for individuals to make judgments and decisions based on information that is easily accessible in their memory, even if that information is not necessarily representative or accurate.

Multiple choice

Which theory suggests that individuals make decisions based on the potential regret they may experience if they choose the wrong option?

  1. Prospect Theory

  2. Expected Utility Theory

  3. Regret Theory

  4. Bounded Rationality
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Regret Theory assumes that individuals are motivated to avoid regret and make decisions that minimize the potential for regret, even if those decisions may not lead to the highest expected value.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Framing Effect

  3. Anchoring Bias

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

Confirmation Bias refers to the tendency for individuals to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and ignore or discount information that contradicts those beliefs.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias leads individuals to make different decisions depending on how the options are presented, even if the underlying outcomes are the same?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Framing Effect

  3. Anchoring Bias

  4. Availability Heuristic
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Framing Effect occurs when individuals make different decisions depending on how the options are presented, even if the underlying outcomes are the same. The way the options are framed can influence the perceived attractiveness and desirability of each option.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to make decisions based on limited information and cognitive resources, rather than attempting to gather all possible information?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Framing Effect

  3. Anchoring Bias

  4. Bounded Rationality
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Bounded Rationality refers to the idea that individuals make decisions based on limited information and cognitive resources, rather than attempting to gather all possible information. This is due to the constraints of time, cognitive capacity, and the complexity of the decision-making environment.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of rare events and underestimate the likelihood of common events?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Framing Effect

  3. Anchoring Bias

  4. Availability Heuristic
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Availability Heuristic refers to the tendency for individuals to make judgments and decisions based on information that is easily accessible in their memory, even if that information is not necessarily representative or accurate. This can lead to overestimating the likelihood of rare events and underestimating the likelihood of common events.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias leads individuals to make decisions based on the sunk costs they have already invested, even if it is no longer rational to continue investing?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Framing Effect

  3. Sunk Cost Fallacy

  4. Availability Heuristic
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sunk Cost Fallacy refers to the tendency for individuals to continue investing in a course of action, even if it is no longer rational to do so, because they have already invested time, money, or effort into it.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to make decisions based on the opinions and actions of others, rather than on one's own independent judgment?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Framing Effect

  3. Social Proof

  4. Availability Heuristic
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Social Proof refers to the tendency for individuals to make decisions based on the opinions and actions of others, rather than on their own independent judgment. This is often driven by the desire to conform to social norms and expectations.