Apr 05, 2017 · Which of the following most likely makes use of heuristics? A. A chemical equation for the synthesis of sulfuric acid B. A recipe for making cookies on the back of a box of cornflakes C. An article by a Nobel Prize winner titled "How to Succeed in Science" D. A computer program for keeping track of inventory at a department store
Types of Heuristics. There are many different kinds of heuristics, including the availability heuristic, the representativeness heuristic, and the affect heuristic. While each type plays a role in decision-making, they occur during different contexts.
Why We Use Heuristics 1 Attribute substitution: People substitute simpler but related questions in place of more complex and difficult questions. 2 Effort reduction: People utilize heuristics as a type of cognitive laziness to reduce the mental effort required to make choices and decisions. 2 3 Fast and frugal: People use heuristics because they can be fast and correct in certain contexts. Some theories argue that heuristics are actually more accurate than they are biased. 3
A heuristic is a mental shortcut that allows people to solve problems and make judgments quickly and efficiently. These rule-of-thumb strategies shorten decision-making time and allow people to function without constantly stopping to think about their next course of action. Heuristics are helpful in many situations, ...
The availability heuristic involves making decisions based upon how easy it is to bring something to mind . When you are trying to make a decision, you might quickly remember a number of relevant examples. Since these are more readily available in your memory, you will likely judge these outcomes as being more common or frequently occurring.
Representativeness. The representativeness heuristic involves making a decision by comparing the present situation to the most representative mental prototype. When you are trying to decide if someone is trustworthy, you might compare aspects of the individual to other mental examples you hold.
The affect heuristic involves making choices that are influenced by the emotions that an individual is experiencing at that moment. For example, research has shown that people are more likely to see decisions as having benefits and lower risks when they are in a positive mood.
Other factors such as overall intelligence and accuracy of perceptions also influence the decision-making process. During the 1970s, psychologists Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman presented their research on cognitive biases. They proposed that these biases influence how people think and the judgments people make.