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

  1. Assimilation

  2. Contrast

  3. Perceptual set

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

Perceptual set is the tendency to perceive objects in a way that is consistent with our expectations.

Multiple choice

The tendency to experience discomfort or tension when our beliefs or expectations are challenged is known as:

  1. Assimilation

  2. Contrast

  3. Perceptual set

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

Cognitive dissonance is the tendency to experience discomfort or tension when our beliefs or expectations are challenged.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a type of attentional bias?

  1. Negativity bias

  2. Positivity bias

  3. Confirmation bias

  4. Salience bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Positivity bias is not a type of attentional bias, but rather a cognitive bias that leads us to focus on positive information more than negative information.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of events that are vivid and emotionally charged?

  1. Availability heuristic

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Framing effect

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

The availability heuristic is a cognitive bias that occurs when people make judgments based on the ease with which information comes to mind. This can lead to overestimating the likelihood of events that are vivid and emotionally charged, even if they are statistically rare.

Multiple choice

In the context of consumer behavior, what is the term for the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to internal factors and negative outcomes to external factors?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Framing effect

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

The self-serving bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when people attribute positive outcomes to their own internal factors, such as their skills or abilities, and negative outcomes to external factors, such as bad luck or other people's actions.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive principle suggests that people are more likely to remember information that is presented at the beginning or end of a list?

  1. Serial position effect

  2. Primacy effect

  3. Recency effect

  4. Von Restorff effect
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The serial position effect is a cognitive principle that describes the tendency for people to remember items that are presented at the beginning or end of a list better than items that are presented in the middle. This effect is caused by the primacy effect and the recency effect.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive principle suggests that people are more likely to pay attention to information that is relevant to their current goals or needs?

  1. Selective attention

  2. Divided attention

  3. Sustained attention

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

Selective attention is the cognitive principle that suggests that people are more likely to pay attention to information that is relevant to their current goals or needs. This is because the brain is limited in its capacity to process information, so it must focus on the most relevant information in order to make decisions and take action.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to make decisions based on the first piece of information that comes to mind?

  1. Availability heuristic

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Framing effect

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

The anchoring bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when people make decisions based on the first piece of information that comes to mind. This can lead to making decisions that are not based on all of the available information.

Multiple choice

In the context of consumer behavior, what is the term for the tendency to prefer products that are familiar or well-known?

  1. Brand loyalty

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Framing effect

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

Brand loyalty is the tendency to prefer products that are familiar or well-known. This is because familiar products are perceived as being less risky and more trustworthy.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive principle suggests that people are more likely to remember information that is presented in a visual format?

  1. Picture superiority effect

  2. Verbal superiority effect

  3. Imagery effect

  4. Mnemonic device effect
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The picture superiority effect is a cognitive principle that suggests that people are more likely to remember information that is presented in a visual format. This is because visual information is processed more quickly and easily by the brain than verbal information.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs?

  1. Availability heuristic

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Framing effect

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

The confirmation bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when people seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs. This can lead to making decisions that are not based on all of the available information.

Multiple choice

In the context of consumer behavior, what is the term for the tendency to make decisions based on emotions rather than logic?

  1. Emotional decision-making

  2. Rational decision-making

  3. Framing effect

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

Emotional decision-making is the tendency to make decisions based on emotions rather than logic. This can lead to making decisions that are not based on all of the available information.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive principle suggests that people are more likely to remember information that is presented in a meaningful context?

  1. Meaningful learning

  2. Rote learning

  3. Imagery effect

  4. Mnemonic device effect
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Meaningful learning is the cognitive principle that suggests that people are more likely to remember information that is presented in a meaningful context. This is because meaningful information is more easily organized and stored in memory.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to make decisions based on the way information is presented?

  1. Availability heuristic

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Framing effect

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

The framing effect is a cognitive bias that occurs when people make decisions based on the way information is presented. This can lead to making decisions that are not based on all of the available information.

Multiple choice

How do emotions influence people's perceptions of their environment?

  1. They can make people more or less likely to notice certain things

  2. They can change the way people interpret what they see

  3. They can affect people's memories of their environment

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

Emotions can influence people's perceptions of their environment in a number of ways. They can make people more or less likely to notice certain things, they can change the way people interpret what they see, and they can affect people's memories of their environment.