WSU Psych 210
Exam 4 with
100% correct
answers (graded
A+)
Describe how we make judgments and
decisions under conditions of uncertainty.
Explain how evaluating probabilities figures
into this. - answer -Uncertainty: lacking
knowledge about which events will occur
-To make decisions under this condition
requires that people estimate the probability
that an event will occur
Define and give examples of heuristics. Be
able to explain the tradeoffs associated with
,heuristic use. - answer -Informal, intuitive,
speculative strategies for making a decision
-Makes decision making more efficient but
can lead to errors
-Tradeoffs: makes decision making more
efficient, trading off accuracy for efficiency
List and describe two major heuristics that
people use to make judgements. Provide
examples of each. - answer Availability
heuristic:
-Evaluating the probability of an event by
judging the ease with which relevant
instances come to mind
-If it's easy to bring to mind, you're going to
judge it as more likely to occur than it
actually is
-Example: causes and estimates of death
(tornado, fireworks, asthma, drowning, etc.)
Representativeness heuristic:
-Evaluating the probability of an even in
terms of how well it represents, or matches,
a prototype
, -Example: you hear of a person who is short,
slim, wears glasses, and likes to read poetry.
Is this person more likely to be a professor at
an Ivy League or a truck driver?
Be able to explain why these heuristics can
lead us astray (i.e., how heuristics trick us). -
answer -Tricked because it sounds like a
prototype/stereotype
-Efficiency versus accuracy
-Not a conscious process, occurs at
unconscious level
-Mental shortcut and a way to be more
efficient
Describe base rates and explain why they are
should be used when making judgments. Be
able to give an example of the proper use of
base rates and how heuristics can lead us to
choose a less optimal alternative. - answer -
Base rates: the relative proportion of
different classes in the population
-The best guess is the option with the greater
base rate
-Example: the truck driver
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