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

Which of the following is NOT a source of random error in psychological measurement?

  1. Variations in the participant's mood

  2. Changes in the environment

  3. Defects in the measurement instrument

  4. Differences in the observer's perception
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Defects in the measurement instrument are a source of systematic error, not random error.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the phenomenon in which voters cast their ballots for candidates based on their personal characteristics, such as their gender, race, or religion?

  1. Identity politics

  2. Stereotyping

  3. Priming

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

Identity politics is the phenomenon in which voters cast their ballots for candidates based on their personal characteristics, such as their gender, race, or religion.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon in which voters change their minds about who to vote for shortly before the election?

  1. Late swing

  2. Bandwagon effect

  3. Herding behavior

  4. Last-minute decision
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Late swing is the phenomenon in which voters change their minds about who to vote for shortly before the election.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the phenomenon in which voters tend to vote for the candidate who is perceived to be winning?

  1. Bandwagon effect

  2. Herding behavior

  3. Conformity bias

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

Bandwagon effect is the phenomenon in which voters tend to vote for the candidate who is perceived to be winning.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon in which voters tend to vote for candidates who are similar to them in terms of social background and experiences?

  1. Social identity voting

  2. Homophily

  3. In-group favoritism

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

Social identity voting is the phenomenon in which voters tend to vote for candidates who are similar to them in terms of social background and experiences.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon in which voters tend to vote for candidates who are perceived to be more competent and experienced?

  1. Competence heuristic

  2. Expertise heuristic

  3. Experience heuristic

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

Competence heuristic is the phenomenon in which voters tend to vote for candidates who are perceived to be more competent and experienced.

Multiple choice

What is the tendency to attribute one's own successes to internal factors and one's failures to external factors called?

  1. Self-Serving Bias

  2. Fundamental Attribution Error

  3. Confirmation Bias

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

Self-serving bias refers to the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to internal factors and negative outcomes to external factors.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Illusory Correlation

  3. Hindsight Bias

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

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to seek out information that supports one's existing beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of individuals to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Selective Perception

  3. Selective Exposure

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

Confirmation Bias is the tendency of individuals to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of individuals to avoid information that challenges their existing beliefs?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Selective Perception

  3. Selective Exposure

  4. Selective Attention
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Selective Exposure is the tendency of individuals to avoid information that challenges their existing beliefs.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of individuals to conform to the opinions of others, even if they disagree?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Selective Perception

  3. Selective Exposure

  4. Spiral of Silence Theory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Spiral of Silence Theory suggests that individuals tend to conform to the opinions of others, even if they disagree.

Multiple choice

Which psychological concept refers to the tendency for individuals to favor outcomes that benefit themselves or their group, even at the expense of others?

  1. Self-interest

  2. Altruism

  3. Social Identity Theory

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

Self-interest is the psychological tendency for individuals to prioritize their own well-being and interests over those of others.

Multiple choice

Which psychological principle suggests that individuals tend to perceive outcomes as fairer when they are determined by procedures that are seen as fair, regardless of the actual distribution of outcomes?

  1. Procedural Justice

  2. Distributive Justice

  3. Equity Theory

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

Procedural Justice emphasizes the importance of fair and transparent procedures in determining the fairness of outcomes.

Multiple choice

According to Equity Theory, individuals strive to maintain a sense of fairness in their relationships by comparing their inputs (e.g., effort, resources) and outcomes (e.g., rewards, recognition) with those of others. What is the psychological state that results when individuals perceive an imbalance between their inputs and outcomes?

  1. Cognitive Dissonance

  2. Social Identity Threat

  3. Equity Imbalance

  4. Procedural Injustice
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Equity Imbalance refers to the psychological state that arises when individuals perceive a discrepancy between their inputs and outcomes compared to others, leading to feelings of unfairness.

Multiple choice

What is the psychological phenomenon that occurs when individuals tend to attribute their successes to internal factors (e.g., skill, effort) and their failures to external factors (e.g., bad luck, unfair circumstances)?

  1. Self-Serving Bias

  2. Fundamental Attribution Error

  3. Confirmation Bias

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

Self-Serving Bias is the tendency for individuals to attribute their successes to internal factors and their failures to external factors, maintaining a positive self-image.