Question

I open the front door to my house and see a package that appears to have been thrown carelessly in the yard. Later, I watch a delivery truck speeding down the street. Reflecting on a recent news report that a large package delivery company has received complaints, I conclude all delivery companies provide inferior service.

Which bias does this reasoning reflect?

Answer 1

The student's scenario exemplifies the cognitive bias known as hasty generalization, where a broad conclusion is drawn from a small, possibly unrepresentative, sample.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reasoning described in the student's scenario reflects a cognitive bias known as hasty generalization. This type of bias occurs when someone makes a broad conclusion based on a small set of examples, which may not be representative. In the student's case, observing one package handled carelessly and one delivery truck speeding does not provide sufficient evidence to conclude that all delivery companies offer inferior service.

Overcoming this bias involves recognizing that the actions of one individual or observations from a single event cannot accurately represent a whole group. It's essential to seek more extensive and diverse evidence before forming such sweeping judgements. A more balanced view might consider individual variations within delivery services, rather than attributing the behavior to all companies.