Final answer:
Heuristics are shortcuts or rules of thumb used to make decisions, which is true. They simplify decision-making processes, particularly under constraints like time or information overload, but can lead to cognitive biases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heuristics are indeed shortcuts or rules of thumb used to make decisions, so the answer to the student's question is true. These mental shortcuts are employed when circumstances such as time constraints, information overload, or minimal decision importance prevent the use of more comprehensive, time-consuming decision-making methods.
Heuristics provide a way to simplify complex problems and make decisions quickly, although this can sometimes lead to less-than-optimal outcomes or cognitive biases. Cognitive biases occur when heuristics result in systematic errors or distortions in judgment. To make rational decisions, especially in new or important situations, it is encouraged to engage in more effortful, conscious reasoning rather than relying solely on intuitive or automatic processes.