Question 1

Data format seems to play an important role in decision-making because:

Accepted Answer

The correct format is more likely to trigger the necessary memory retrieval path.

Question 2

Tony is trying to decide which flavor of gelato his wife would best like. She has never had gelato before, so Tony bases his decision on her favorite kind of ice cream. Tony is using a(an) _____ to make his decision.

Accepted Answer

Tony is using attribute substitution, where he substitutes the unknown attribute (his wife's favorite gelato flavor) with a known attribute (her favorite ice cream flavor) to make his decision.

Question 3

Training in statistics:

Accepted Answer

Training in statistics has been found to improve participants’ ability to make judgments and reduce judgment errors. This is because statistics training teaches individuals how to make better judgments based on empirical data rather than intuition or personal biases.

Question 4

In one experiment, participants were asked to list either 6 or 12 instances in their lives when they were assertive. Which of the following statements in NOT true about the participants who were asked to list only 6 instances?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In one experiment, participants were asked to...

Question 5

Presumably, people would choose to use _____ when making judgments that aren't particularly important and _____ for more crucial decisions, but evidence suggests this is not the case.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Presumably, people would choose to use _____...

Question 6

Some psychologists argue that because of environmental conditions during the times of our ancient ancestors, humans are better able to make judgments based on information presented as _____ than as _____.

Accepted Answer

Psychologists argue that our ancestors were better equipped to make decisions based on frequencies rather than probabilities due to the need to quickly assess risk in a survival situation. Frequencies provide concrete, tangible information that is easier for the brain to process and understand compared to abstract probabilities.

Question 7

Someone who is insensitive to base rates is likely to have all of the following problems EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Insensitivity to base rates can lead to errors in various cognitive processes, such as estimating covariation, determining cause-and-effect relationships, and relying too much on the representative heuristic. However, underusing diagnostic information is not directly related to insensitivity to base rates.

Question 8

Nisbett has argued that participants do understand the basic principles of statistics but often fail to use their knowledge. Which of the following situations does NOT contain one of the triggers that leads to the use of statistical knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Option B talks about personal importance and motivation, not statistical factors, as the trigger for using statistical knowledge. The other options all mention aspects related to statistical knowledge.

Question 9

Megan cannot sleep at night because she is terribly worried about being robbed, which is highly unlikely. As her friend, you want to help her by describing judgment errors and why she should not lose anymore sleep. Which concept is NOT contributing to her irrational fear?

Accepted Answer

Sample size neglect refers to ignoring the size of a sample when making judgments, which is not directly related to Megan's fear of being robbed. Her fear is more likely influenced by the other factors listed.

Question 10

The law of large numbers implies that larger samples of data are less likely to show accidental patterns; therefore, larger samples are generally more informative. In making judgments about evidence, participants:

Accepted Answer

The law of large numbers is often misunderstood or ignored by individuals in certain contexts, while in other situations, they might intuitively understand and respect its implications. This inconsistency can depend on the specific scenario, the presentation of data, or the individual's background knowledge in statistics.

Question 11

Human judgment is bound to be subjective, and contains at least a few errors because:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Human judgment is bound to be subjective,...

Question 12

Studies indicate that training in statistics:

Accepted Answer

Training in statistics improves participants' performance in a variety of judgment problems.

Question 13

Two groups of participants are asked to rate how likely it is a student will pass a physics exam. Group A is told that in the past only 30% of students have passed this test. Group B is told that this student is one of a sample of students, and among that sample, only 30% passed. Group B is more likely to:

Accepted Answer

Group B is given sample-specific information and may focus more on that information rather than the base-rate information. As a result, they are more likely to ignore the base-rate information and rely solely on the sample-specific information.

Question 14

People with higher IQs are likely to use System 2 to:

Accepted Answer

People with higher IQs are more likely to engage in conscious, deliberate, and effortful thinking, which is the domain of System 2. They are better able to overrule the automatic tendencies of System 1 and engage in reflective and analytic thinking to arrive at accurate judgments and decisions. This is particularly relevant in situations where System 1 cues might be misleading or deceptive. Therefore, the correct option is A.

Question 15

Background knowledge can lead to mistakes, but it can also provide a benefit if:

Accepted Answer

When background knowledge is about how the parts of the problem are related, it can provide a benefit by helping the person see the big picture and understand how the pieces fit together. This can lead to better decision-making and problem-solving. A, C, and D do not necessarily have a direct relationship to the benefits of background knowledge in avoiding mistakes.

Quiz 12: Judgment: Drawing Conclusions From Evidence