Question 1

Research findings suggest that the best advice to give people who want to avoid belief perseverance is

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that considering the opposite viewpoint is the best advice to avoid belief perseverance. This means actively seeking out information that contradicts your beliefs and being willing to change your stance if the evidence warrants it. Justifying your positions, avoiding hasty conclusions, and being objective are good practices, but they do not necessarily address the specific issue of belief perseverance.

Question 2

William is convinced that there is no relationship between exposure to violent media and aggressive behavior.When presented with evidence to the contrary,he quickly critiques it and disputes it,claiming that it is unreliable and flawed.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

William's quick dismissal of evidence that contradicts his belief suggests that he is engaging in motivated reasoning. Motivated reasoning is when individuals "embrac[e] information that confirms what they already believe, while ignoring or rejecting evidence that contradicts those beliefs" (Mercier & Sperber, 2017). In this case, William's belief that there is no relationship between exposure to violent media and aggressive behavior is motivating him to reject evidence to the contrary.

Question 3

Consumers respond more positively to ground beef advertised as "75 percent lean" than to ground beef described as "25 percent fat." This illustrates that consumer reactions are influenced by

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of framing, which is the way information is presented can influence the perception and decision-making of individuals. In this case, the term "75 percent lean" is a positive frame that highlights the beef's leanness, while "25 percent fat" is a negative frame that emphasizes the beef's fat content. Consumers are more likely to respond positively to the positive frame, even though both statements convey the same information.

Question 4

While shopping for a new winter coat you find a $100 coat marked down from $150.This seems like a better deal than a similar coat priced regularly at $100.This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates the concept of framing, which is the way information is presented can influence how people perceive and make decisions about it. In this case, the presentation of the sale price being marked down from $150 created a perception of a "better deal" compared to a similar coat priced regularly at $100.

Question 5

A framing of choices by which governments and companies can,without coercion or altered incentives,encourage people to make choices that support their health,retirement savings,and well-being is called

Accepted Answer

A nudge refers to small interventions or changes in the environment that can influence people's behavior without limiting their options or changing their incentives. It is a way of guiding people towards making better choices for themselves, such as saving more for retirement or choosing healthier food options. Belief perseverance, overconfidence, and intuition are not relevant to this concept.

Question 6

An unwillingness to give up our beliefs even when the evidence proves us wrong is called

Accepted Answer

Belief perseverance is the tendency to cling to our beliefs even when they have been discredited. We continue to believe in something, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. This is different from confirmation bias, which is the tendency to seek out and favor information that confirms our preexisting beliefs. The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut where we rely on the most easily available information to make judgments. Trial and error is a problem-solving method where various solutions are tried until the right one is found.

Question 7

People are very likely to decide to be organ donors when the default option on their renewable drivers' license forms is Yes,but they can choose to drop out.They are much less likely to decide to be organ donors if the default option on their license forms is No,but they can choose to opt in.This best illustrates the effects of

Accepted Answer

This scenario is a classic example of framing, which is the way information is presented or framed in order to influence people's decisions. When the default option is set to "Yes" for organ donation, people are more likely to follow suit because it is the default or expected choice. On the other hand, when the default option is set to "No," people are less likely to choose to opt-in because this option is not the norm or expected choice. Therefore, framing has a significant impact on people's decisions.

Question 8

Master chess players can make correct game moves at such speed that their acquired expertise feels like

Accepted Answer

Master chess players have developed intuition, which is the ability to make correct decisions quickly based on their experience and subconscious pattern recognition. They are not necessarily following a strict algorithm or prototype, and their motivation is likely intrinsic rather than extrinsic.

Question 9

Implicit knowledge of what we've learned but can't fully explain is most clearly reflected in our

Accepted Answer

Intuitions are often based on our implicit knowledge and experiences, which we struggle to fully explain or articulate. This is why they are often described as "gut feelings." Intrinsic motivation refers to our internal drive and desire to pursue a task, and is not necessarily linked to implicit knowledge. Algorithms are systematic sets of rules or procedures used to solve a problem, and are generally based on explicit knowledge. Prototypes are initial models or versions of a product or idea, and are not related to implicit knowledge.

Question 10

People with opposing views of capital punishment reviewed mixed evidence regarding its effectiveness as a crime deterrent.As a result,their opposing views differed more strongly than ever.This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes how individuals are presented with mixed evidence, but due to their opposing views, they interpret the evidence in a way that supports their preexisting beliefs. This phenomenon is known as belief perseverance, where individuals persistently cling to their initial beliefs despite contradictory evidence.

Question 11

When Quang couldn't find his wallet,he began to wonder about his roommate's honesty.Although Quang later recalled that he had left his wallet in the glove compartment of his car,he continued to doubt his roommate's honesty.Quang's irrational thinking best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Quang's continued doubt of his roommate's honesty, even after finding his wallet and having no evidence against his roommate, illustrates belief perseverance. This is the tendency to cling to one's initial belief even after receiving new information that contradicts or disproves the initial belief.

Question 12

The value of making a good first impression when you begin work for a new employer is best underscored by the research on

Accepted Answer

Belief perseverance is the tendency to stick to our initial beliefs even when evidence contradicts them. Making a good first impression is crucial because initial judgments about a person can be very sticky and difficult to change, highlighting the importance of belief perseverance in this context.

Question 13

The risks of smoking are more alarming when presented in terms of the number of smokers with lung cancer than the percentage of smokers with lung cancer.This illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates the concept of framing, which refers to the way information is presented or framed to influence how people perceive and respond to it. When risks are presented in terms of raw numbers (number of smokers with lung cancer), it can be more impactful than presenting them in the form of percentages. This can be attributed to the fact that presenting information in terms of numbers reduces the cognitive load and makes it easier for people to process and comprehend the information. Therefore, D (framing) is the best answer.

Question 14

One of Kaylee's new college professors has a slightly high-pitched voice very similar to one of her high school teachers whom Kaylee disliked.Without consciously realizing the voice similarity,Kaylee's gut-level reaction to the voice led her to form an unduly negative first impression of her new professor.This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates intuition, where Kaylee forms a negative first impression of her new professor based on a subconscious reaction to the professor's voice, which is similar to that of a disliked high school teacher. This gut-level reaction is not based on deliberate thought or reasoning but on an automatic, intuitive response.

Question 15

Jennifer was asked,"Do you want to help save the lives of innocent children?" before being asked if she would sign a petition in support of gun control legislature.Jennifer decided to sign the petition.This demonstrates

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates the framing effect, where the way a question or issue is presented can influence our attitude and decision-making. This is demonstrated through the fact that Jennifer was first asked if she wanted to help save innocent children, which frames the issue in a way that suggests that gun control legislation would help achieve this goal. As a result, Jennifer was more likely to sign the petition, even if she had not previously been in support of gun control.

Question 16

On Monday,the meteorologist forecast a 20 percent chance of rain,so Sheryl took her umbrella to work.On Friday,he reported an 80 percent chance that it would not rain,so Sheryl left her umbrella at home.Sheryl's behavior illustrates the effect of

Accepted Answer

Sheryl's behavior can be explained by framing, which refers to the way information is presented and how it can influence our decisions. In this case, the framing of a 20 percent chance of rain on Monday led Sheryl to bring her umbrella, while the framing of an 80 percent chance of no rain on Friday led her to leave her umbrella at home. The different framings of the same information affected Sheryl's behavior.

Question 17

Using beliefs to assess evidence,rather than using evidence to draw conclusions,is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Motivated reasoning refers to the tendency to use beliefs, values, and emotions to evaluate evidence and draw conclusions. This can lead to biased or selective processing of information, and may result in individuals clinging to their initial beliefs even in the face of contradictory evidence. The framing effect refers to how the presentation of information can influence perceptions and decisions, belief perseverance refers to the tendency to maintain beliefs even in the face of disconfirming evidence, and the availability heuristic is a mental shortcut whereby judgments are made based on easily retrievable information.

Question 18

People are less upset when they miss getting an early payment discount than when they are asked to bear a late payment surcharge.This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

This scenario highlights the concept of framing, which describes how the way information is presented can influence the way it is perceived. When early payment discounts are offered, the message is framed positively, emphasizing the potential savings. In contrast, late payment surcharges are framed negatively, focusing on the added cost for non-compliance. As a result, people may react more strongly to the prospect of a penalty than to a missed opportunity for savings.

Question 19

Although intuition can at times hinder rationality,it is often adaptive because it facilitates

Accepted Answer

Intuition helps with quick decisions, which can be adaptive in time-sensitive situations where there is not enough time to thoroughly analyze all the available information.

Question 20

Wording a question or presenting an issue in such a way that it evokes a desired judgment is called

Accepted Answer

Framing is the deliberate choice of words and presentation in order to influence the way an issue or question is perceived. It can be used to evoke a desired judgment or response from the audience or person being asked the question. The other answer choices are related to cognitive biases and algorithms, but they do not specifically relate to the framing of a question or issue.

Quiz 9: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence