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 an example of a cognitive bias?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Framing effect

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

A cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking that occurs when people are processing information. Confirmation bias is a cognitive bias in which people tend to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs, while ignoring information that contradicts them. For example, if someone believes that climate change is not real, they may be more likely to seek out information that supports this belief, while ignoring information that contradicts it.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a heuristic?

  1. Availability heuristic

  2. Representativeness heuristic

  3. Anchoring bias

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

A heuristic is a mental shortcut that people use to make decisions. The availability heuristic is a heuristic in which people tend to judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily they can remember examples of that event. For example, people may believe that car accidents are more common than plane crashes, simply because they can more easily remember examples of car accidents.

Multiple choice

In behavioral economics, what is the term for the tendency to overvalue items that we own?

  1. Sunk cost fallacy

  2. Endowment effect

  3. Framing effect

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

The endowment effect refers to the tendency for individuals to place a higher value on items they own compared to identical items they do not own.

Multiple choice

In behavioral economics, what is the term for the tendency to make decisions based on emotions rather than rational analysis?

  1. Bounded rationality

  2. Limited information

  3. Social preferences

  4. Affect heuristic
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Affect heuristic refers to the tendency to make decisions based on emotions and feelings rather than rational analysis.

Multiple choice

In behavioral economics, what is the term for the tendency to make decisions based on the status quo?

  1. Bounded rationality

  2. Limited information

  3. Social preferences

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

Status quo bias refers to the tendency to prefer the current state of affairs, even if there are potential benefits to changing it.

Multiple choice

In behavioral economics, what is the term for the tendency to make decisions based on the opinions of others?

  1. Bounded rationality

  2. Limited information

  3. Social preferences

  4. Herding behavior
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Herding behavior refers to the tendency to make decisions based on the opinions of others, even if those opinions are not necessarily correct.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the perception of a taste that is not actually present?

  1. Phantom taste

  2. Gustatory hallucination

  3. Lingering taste

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

Phantom taste is the perception of a taste that is not actually present.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the perception of a taste that is caused by a non-food substance?

  1. Phantom taste

  2. Gustatory hallucination

  3. Lingering taste

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

Gustatory hallucination is the perception of a taste that is caused by a non-food substance.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the perception of a taste that is caused by a chemical reaction in the mouth?

  1. Phantom taste

  2. Gustatory hallucination

  3. Lingering taste

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

Lingering taste is the perception of a taste that is caused by a chemical reaction in the mouth.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the way in which science is influenced by the intentions and values of scientists?

  1. Objectivity

  2. Subjectivity

  3. Value-ladenness

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

Value-ladenness is the term used to describe the way in which science is influenced by the intentions and values of scientists. It is the idea that science is not a purely objective enterprise, but rather that it is shaped by the values and beliefs of the scientists who conduct it.

Multiple choice

In what ways can social biases and prejudices affect our judgments?

  1. By leading us to make more accurate and informed decisions

  2. By promoting fairness and equality in our interactions with others

  3. By causing us to make unfair and discriminatory judgments

  4. By enhancing our ability to understand and empathize with others
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Social biases and prejudices can lead to unfair and discriminatory judgments by influencing our perceptions and attitudes towards certain groups of people.

Multiple choice

How does the concept of 'social proof' affect our judgments and behaviors?

  1. It leads us to conform to the opinions and behaviors of others

  2. It encourages us to challenge societal norms and expectations

  3. It promotes independent thinking and decision-making

  4. It fosters a sense of individuality and uniqueness
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Social proof refers to our tendency to conform to the actions and beliefs of others, especially when we are uncertain about the correct course of action.

Multiple choice

How can the concept of 'framing' influence our judgments and decisions?

  1. It allows us to consider all relevant information and make informed choices

  2. It biases our judgments by presenting information in a particular way

  3. It promotes critical thinking and skepticism

  4. It fosters a sense of objectivity and detachment in decision-making
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Framing refers to the way in which information is presented, which can influence our judgments and decisions by highlighting certain aspects and downplaying others.

Multiple choice

How does the concept of 'bounded rationality' affect our judgments and decision-making?

  1. It allows us to make quick and efficient decisions in complex situations

  2. It leads to irrational and impulsive choices

  3. It promotes critical thinking and careful deliberation

  4. It fosters a sense of objectivity and detachment in decision-making
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Bounded rationality refers to the idea that our cognitive limitations and the complexity of decision-making situations often lead us to make simplified and heuristic-based judgments.

Multiple choice

How can the concept of 'confirmation bias' influence our judgments and decision-making?

  1. It helps us to gather all relevant information and make informed choices

  2. It leads us to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs

  3. It promotes critical thinking and open-mindedness

  4. It fosters a sense of objectivity and detachment in decision-making
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Confirmation bias refers to our tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs and disregard information that contradicts them.