Cognitive Reflection Test Identifying Cognitive Traps 3

Question 1

Judging that plane crashes are common because they are memorable and vivid reflects which trap?

Accepted Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

The availability heuristic overweights events that come easily to mind.

Question 2

Continuing a failing project only because you already invested money is which cognitive trap?

Accepted Answer

Sunk cost fallacy

Answer

The sunk cost fallacy keeps you committed based on unrecoverable past investment.

Question 3

Ignoring that a disease is rare when interpreting a positive test reflects which error?

Accepted Answer

Base rate neglect

Answer

Base rate neglect ignores the underlying prevalence when judging probability.

Question 4

Believing a coin is 'due' for heads after five tails is which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Gambler's fallacy

Answer

The gambler's fallacy assumes independent events influence each other.

Question 5

Relying too heavily on the first number you hear when estimating a value is which trap?

Accepted Answer

Anchoring bias

Answer

Anchoring makes an initial reference point distort later judgments.

Cognitive Reflection Test Practice Test