Which happens more frequently: death by asthma or death by tornadoes? People typically believe that tornadoes cause more deaths, but statistics reveal that asthma actually causes significantly more deaths. Some researchers argue that we make this error because TV news dramatically publicizes deaths due to tornadoes, which presumably makes it much easier for us to call up these examples. This particular finding is best considered as an example of a judgment error caused by ________.
A)a mental set
B)a confirmation bias
C)the availability heuristic
D)the representativeness heuristic

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The error in judgment described is best considered an example of the availability heuristic. This heuristic involves making decisions based on how easily examples come to mind, which can be heavily influenced by media coverage and personal experiences, leading to a skewed perception of frequency or risk.

Which Happens More Frequently: Death by Asthma or Death by Tornadoes