College students incorrectly judge that death by plane crash is more frequent than death from asthma. In fact, asthma is 20 times more likely to cause death. Which of the following explains this error in judgment?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This error in judgment is due to the availability heuristic, where people base their judgments and conclusions on information that is easily available to them. The media often heavily covers plane crashes, making them more memorable and available in people's minds, while deaths from asthma may not receive as much attention. As a result, people may believe that plane crashes are more common and more likely to cause death than they actually are.

College Students Incorrectly Judge That Death by Plane Crash Is