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Define cognitive bias in terms of how heuristics and uncertainty interact, and describe the nature of the resulting behavioral outcomes.
Question: Define cognitive bias in terms of how heuristics and uncertainty interact, and describe the nature of the resulting behavioral outcomes.
Sample answer: A cognitive bias is a predictable deviation from logical reasoning that occurs when individuals use heuristics, or mental shortcuts, to make decisions under conditions of uncertainty. Rather than producing random errors, the reliance on these heuristics leads to systematic and predictable biases in behavior.
Key points:
- Heuristics are mental shortcuts used when reasoning under uncertainty.
- Relying on heuristics leads to cognitive biases.
- The resulting biases in behavior are predictable and systematic.
Rubric: A full-credit response must explicitly define cognitive bias in the context of using heuristics under uncertainty, and must state that the resulting behavioral effects are systematic and predictable rather than random.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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