Joe is trying to decide where to eat dinner tonight. He considers the local restaurant around the corner from his apartment, and recalls that the last time he ate there, the service was poor and the food was cold when it arrived. He figures the chances of bad service again tonight are high so he decides to go somewhere else. What heuristic is Joe engaging in?
A) Representativeness heuristic
B) Availability Heuristic
C) Lexicographic Heuristic
D) The Price/Quality Heuristic
E) The Anchoring-and-Adjustment Heuristic

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Joe is using the availability heuristic, where he is basing his decision on the most easily available information he has, which in this case is the negative experience he had previously at the local restaurant. He is assuming that the probability of a similar bad experience is high, rather than considering other factors such as the restaurant's efforts to improve their service and food quality.

Joe Is Trying to Decide Where to Eat Dinner Tonight