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What are types of heuristics that often lead to errors?

A) Biases
B) Algorithms
C) Hypotheses
D) Data

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Types of heuristics that often lead to errors include cognitive biases such as confirmation bias, anchoring bias, availability heuristic, and representative bias, which can all undermine logical reasoning and result in incorrect decisions. Option b.

Step-by-step explanation:

Heuristics are mental shortcuts used to simplify decision making, and they can often lead to errors. Specific types of heuristics that are known to cause errors include various cognitive biases. Confirmation bias is a type of cognitive bias where individuals tend to search for and favor information that confirms their existing beliefs. Moreover, anchoring bias occurs when people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they see (the "anchor") to make subsequent judgments. Another example is the availability heuristic, which prompts people to overestimate the importance of information that is available to them or that they can easily recall. Representative bias, sometimes known as stereotyping, can also lead to errors by causing people to overlook evidence that contradicts stereotypes they hold. These biases lead to inaccuracies by substituting complex, accurate assessments with flawed, simplistic reasoning.

One result of cognitive bias is making decisions based on stereotypes rather than data or logical reasoning. The reliance on such mental heuristics, while sometimes quick and efficient, can result in systematic deviations from logic, optimal judgment, or rational decision-making processes, ultimately producing errors.

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