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

The Shepard-Kruskal model of judgment is a mathematical model that assumes that:

  1. Judgments are based on a single underlying dimension.

  2. Judgments are based on multiple underlying dimensions.

  3. Judgments are based on a combination of underlying dimensions and noise.

  4. Judgments are based on a random process.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Shepard-Kruskal model of judgment is a mathematical model that assumes that judgments are based on a combination of underlying dimensions and noise.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of negative events and underestimate the likelihood of positive events?

  1. Optimism Bias

  2. Pessimism Bias

  3. Negativity Bias

  4. Positivity Bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Negativity Bias refers to the tendency for individuals to pay more attention to and remember negative information compared to positive information.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a common application of mathematical psychology?

  1. Modeling decision-making

  2. Simulating learning processes

  3. Developing memory models

  4. Explaining perceptual phenomena
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

Mathematical psychology has a wide range of applications, including modeling decision-making, simulating learning processes, developing memory models, and explaining perceptual phenomena.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon in which people tend to remember information that is consistent with their existing beliefs and knowledge?

  1. Confirmation bias.

  2. Negativity bias.

  3. Framing effect.

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

Confirmation bias refers to the phenomenon in which people tend to remember information that is consistent with their existing beliefs and knowledge, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts those beliefs.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon in which people's behavior is influenced by the way information is presented to them?

  1. Framing effect.

  2. Priming.

  3. Anchoring bias.

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

Framing effect refers to the phenomenon in which people's behavior is influenced by the way information is presented to them, even if the underlying facts remain the same.

Multiple choice

The tendency to focus on a single solution and overlook other possibilities is known as:

  1. Functional fixedness

  2. Mental set

  3. Confirmation bias

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

Functional fixedness is the tendency to see an object only in terms of its usual function, which can make it difficult to come up with creative solutions to problems.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to favor one's own group over other groups?

  1. In-group bias

  2. Out-group bias

  3. Ethnocentrism

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

In-group bias is the tendency to favor one's own group over other groups, while out-group bias is the tendency to disfavor other groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive members of other groups as more similar to each other than they actually are?

  1. Out-group homogeneity

  2. In-group homogeneity

  3. Stereotyping

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

Out-group homogeneity is the tendency to perceive members of other groups as more similar to each other than they actually are, while in-group homogeneity is the tendency to perceive members of one's own group as more similar to each other than they actually are.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to favor members of one's own group over members of other groups?

  1. In-group bias

  2. Out-group bias

  3. Ethnocentrism

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

In-group bias is the tendency to favor members of one's own group over members of other groups, while out-group bias is the tendency to disfavor members of other groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive members of other groups as more similar to each other than they actually are?

  1. Out-group homogeneity

  2. In-group homogeneity

  3. Stereotyping

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

Out-group homogeneity is the tendency to perceive members of other groups as more similar to each other than they actually are, while in-group homogeneity is the tendency to perceive members of one's own group as more similar to each other than they actually are.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where people tend to remember the beginning and end of a list of items better than the items in the middle?

  1. Serial Position Effect

  2. Primacy Effect

  3. Recency Effect

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

The serial position effect refers to the tendency to remember the beginning and end of a list of items better than the items in the middle.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a risk-averse individual?

  1. Hesitation to embrace change

  2. Preference for familiar and predictable situations

  3. Willingness to take calculated risks

  4. Aversion to uncertainty and ambiguity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Risk-averse individuals tend to avoid uncertainty and prefer familiar situations, while calculated risk-taking involves carefully assessing and managing potential risks.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to seek out information that supports our existing beliefs while avoiding information that contradicts them?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Selective Perception

  3. Attitude Inoculation

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

Confirmation Bias describes the tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs, while disregarding or downplaying evidence that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of the group we belong to?

  1. Social Identity Theory

  2. Groupthink

  3. Normative Social Influence

  4. Informational Social Influence
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Normative Social Influence refers to the tendency to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of the group we belong to, in order to gain approval and avoid rejection.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the process of changing someone's attitudes by presenting them with a strong argument that directly contradicts their existing beliefs?

  1. Attitude Inoculation

  2. Counterarguing

  3. Boomerang Effect

  4. Sleeper Effect
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Counterarguing involves presenting someone with a strong argument that directly contradicts their existing beliefs, in an attempt to change their attitudes.