Alex and Barbara are asked to estimate the size of a crowd. Alex is asked whether the crowd is bigger or smaller than 10,000 whereas Barbara is asked whether the crowd is bigger or smaller than 2,000. The fact that Alex would give a larger estimate could best be explained by
A) the representativeness heuristic.
B) mental set.
C) the anchoring bias.
D) self-imposed limitations.
E) cognitive maps.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Alex's estimate is anchored by the number 10,000, leading to the anchoring bias. This bias occurs when an individual relies too heavily on the first piece of information encountered when making a judgment or decision. The fact that Alex was given a higher number as a reference point caused him to give a larger estimate.

Alex and Barbara Are Asked to Estimate the Size of a Crowd