AP Psych - Mod 35: Solving Problems and Making Decisions

algorithm

logical rule or step by step procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem

heuristic

a simple thinking short cut strategy that often allows us to make judgements and solve problems effciently

(speedier but more error prone)

insight

sudden realization of a problem's solution; contrasts with strategy based solutions

confirmation bias

tendency to search for info that supports our preconceptions

fixation

the inability to see a problem from a new perspective, an obstacle to problem solving

mental set

tendency to approach a problem in one particular way that has often succeded in the past

intuition

an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought

contrasts explicit conscious reasoning

representativeness heuristic

estimating the likelihood of events in terms of how well they seem to represent / match particular prototypes

(may lead us to ignore relevant info)

availability heuristic

estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory

(vividness, recency, or distinctiveness may make it seem common)

overconfidence

the tendency to be more confident than correct; overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgements

belief preseverance

clining to one's initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited

framing

the way an issue is posed

how an issue is worded can significantly affect decisions and judgements