Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) Practice Exam

Question: 1 / 400

What does the availability heuristic primarily affect in decision-making?

Rational thought process

Memory and retrieval of information

The availability heuristic primarily influences how memory and retrieval of information are utilized in decision-making. This cognitive shortcut relies on immediate examples that come to mind when evaluating a specific topic, concept, method, or decision. For instance, if someone frequently hears news about plane crashes, they may overestimate the dangers of flying, as these vivid instances are easily retrievable from memory.

This heuristic highlights how actual experiences and recent information shape perceptions and judgments, often leading to biased outcomes. It does not directly alter rational thought processes or logical reasoning abilities but rather affects the ease with which certain information is recalled, subsequently influencing the decision at hand. Emotional responses can also intertwine with memory but are not the primary focus of the availability heuristic.

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Emotional responses

Logical reasoning ability

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