Final answer:
The preferred alternative used by a decision-maker for comparison is termed an implicit favorite. This concept is key in understanding how decisions are influenced by cognitive shortcuts like heuristics, public opinion, and biases towards the status quo in group settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
An alternative that the decision-maker prefers and is used to compare other choices to is known as a(n) implicit favorite. This term describes a preferred option that the decision-maker uses as a reference point against which all other alternatives are evaluated. This is not to be confused with a benchmark, which is more of a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed. Information such as public opinion, collective decision-making biases, or cognitive heuristics play a significant role in shaping a decision-maker's implicit favorite.
When considering the process of decision-making within groups, biases often lean towards maintaining the status quo, as collective decision-making usually involves a bias towards existing preferences or solutions. Cognitive heuristics, such as substituting a complex decision with a simpler one, are mental shortcuts that individuals and groups use to simplify the decision-making process. In voting decisions, for instance, voters may choose candidates based on party affiliation rather than engaging in a detailed comparison of all candidates, illustrating the use of such a heuristic.