Q: Which equation best represents the process of maximizing outcomes in normative decision making?

$$ U = \sum_{i=1}^{n} p_i \times v_i $$

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning, as illustrated in the provided diagram?

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning starts with general principles assumed universally true and applies them to specific cases, while inductive reasoning starts with specific facts and formulates a general principle.

Question 2

According to the normative approach in decision making, what is the primary assumption about human behavior?

Accepted Answer

People are rational and try to maximize outcomes.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of confirmation bias?

Accepted Answer

Seeking evidence that supports your beliefs while ignoring evidence that contradicts them.

Question 4

In the context of decision making, what is the effect of framing?

Accepted Answer

The wording or context of a question can change how individuals make decisions.

Question 5

Which heuristic is described as the tendency to judge the frequency of an event by how easily examples come to mind?

Accepted Answer

Availability bias

Question 6

A forensic scientist collects evidence from a crime scene and uses it to form a general principle about the crime. Which type of reasoning is this?

Accepted Answer

Inductive reasoning

Question 7

If a person is risk seeking when facing a loss and risk averse when facing a gain, which psychological concept does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Framing effect

Question 8

Which of the following best illustrates the availability bias?

Accepted Answer

Believing that terrorist attacks are more common than bathtub accidents because they are more memorable.

Question 9

Which approach in psychology focuses on how people actually make decisions, rather than how they should make decisions?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive approach

Question 10

In the matchstick problem, which cognitive process is primarily being tested?

Accepted Answer

Problem solving

Question 11

Which of the following statements about heuristics is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that can sometimes lead to errors in reasoning.

Question 12

A scientist uses a general principle to predict the outcome of a specific experiment. Which type of reasoning is this?

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning

Question 13

Which of the following is a multi-step reasoning process that integrates both inductive and deductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Collecting facts, forming a general principle, and then applying that principle to a specific case.

Question 14

Which equation best represents the process of maximizing outcomes in normative decision making?

Accepted Answer

$$ U = \sum_{i=1}^{n} p_i 	imes v_i $$

Question 15

A person is asked to generate words with 'n' as the sixth letter versus words ending in '-ing'. Which rule is likely to generate more words, and why?

Accepted Answer

Words ending in '-ing', because the rule is easier to retrieve from memory (availability bias).

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a way to minimize confirmation bias?

Accepted Answer

Ignoring disconfirming cases.

Question 17

Which psychological concept explains why extremist political groups may become more polarized?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Question 18

Which statement best summarizes the take-home message about reasoning and decision making?

Accepted Answer

Reasoning and decision making are both objective bottom-up and subjective top-down processes.

Question 19

Which of the following is a real-world example of the framing effect?

Accepted Answer

A doctor presents a treatment as having a 90% survival rate versus a 10% mortality rate, affecting the patient's decision.

Question 20

Which process is most likely to be influenced by both perceptual and memory construction, according to the descriptive approach?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive decision making

9. Reasoning, Decision Making, and Problem Solving: Key Concepts in Cognitive Psychology

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