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 for the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our attitudes and beliefs?

  1. False Consensus Effect

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Illusory Correlation

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

The False Consensus Effect refers to the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our attitudes and beliefs, leading us to believe that our views are more widely held than they actually are.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon of comparing oneself to others on social media and feeling inadequate?

  1. Social comparison

  2. Body dysmorphic disorder

  3. Self-objectification

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

Social comparison is the process of comparing oneself to others, often leading to feelings of inadequacy or superiority.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon of using social media to compare oneself to others and feeling inadequate?

  1. Social comparison

  2. Body dysmorphic disorder

  3. Self-objectification

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

Social comparison is the process of comparing oneself to others, often leading to feelings of inadequacy or superiority.

Multiple choice

What was the Hawthorne Effect?

  1. The tendency for workers to produce more when they are being observed.

  2. The tendency for workers to produce less when they are being observed.

  3. The tendency for workers to produce the same amount regardless of whether they are being observed.

  4. The tendency for workers to produce more when they are given positive feedback.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Hawthorne Effect is the tendency for workers to produce more when they are being observed. This effect was first observed at the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric Company in the 1920s.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the mental shortcut that people use to make quick decisions?

  1. Heuristic

  2. Algorithm

  3. Mental model

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

A heuristic is a mental shortcut that people use to make quick decisions. Heuristics can be helpful in making decisions quickly, but they can also lead to errors.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common decision-making bias?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Framing bias

  3. Availability bias

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

Representative bias is not a common decision-making bias because it is not a systematic error in judgment. Representative bias is the tendency to judge the likelihood of an event based on its similarity to other events.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common decision-making bias?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Framing bias

  3. Availability bias

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

Hindsight bias is not a common decision-making bias because it is not a systematic error in judgment. Hindsight bias is the tendency to believe that an event was more predictable than it actually was.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the mental shortcut that people use to make quick decisions?

  1. Heuristic

  2. Algorithm

  3. Mental model

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

A heuristic is a mental shortcut that people use to make quick decisions. Heuristics can be helpful in making decisions quickly, but they can also lead to errors.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common decision-making bias?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Framing bias

  3. Availability bias

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

Representative bias is not a common decision-making bias because it is not a systematic error in judgment. Representative bias is the tendency to judge the likelihood of an event based on its similarity to other events.

Multiple choice

According to the theory of selective perception, individuals tend to:

  1. Seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs

  2. Avoid information that challenges their existing beliefs

  3. Objectively evaluate all information without bias

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Selective perception is the tendency for individuals to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and attitudes, while avoiding information that challenges them.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a psychological factor that influences investment decisions?

  1. Risk aversion

  2. Overconfidence

  3. Herd behavior

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

Anchoring bias is a cognitive bias that can influence investment decisions, but it is not a psychological factor.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a psychological factor that influences saving and investment decisions?

  1. Cognitive biases

  2. Emotions

  3. Social norms

  4. Economic conditions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Economic conditions are an external factor that can influence saving and investment decisions, but they are not a psychological factor.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a psychological factor that influences saving and investment decisions?

  1. Loss aversion

  2. Prospect theory

  3. Hyperbolic discounting

  4. Inflation expectations
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Inflation expectations are an economic factor that can influence saving and investment decisions, but they are not a psychological factor.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a psychological factor that influences investment decisions?

  1. Risk aversion

  2. Overconfidence

  3. Herd behavior

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

Anchoring bias is a cognitive bias that can influence investment decisions, but it is not a psychological factor.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the process by which consumers seek out information that supports their existing attitudes?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Selective perception

  3. Attitude bolstering

  4. Cognitive dissonance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Attitude bolstering is the process by which consumers seek out information that supports their existing attitudes. This is a common phenomenon, as consumers are more likely to pay attention to information that confirms their existing beliefs.