Decision Making
This is the process of identifying a problem, considering choices, examining evidence, predicting consequences, and selecting an action.
What is decision making?
This is an error in reasoning that can make a claim or argument seem stronger than its evidence supports.
What is a fallacy?
This is a pattern of thinking that can influence judgment, sometimes without a person noticing.
What is a cognitive bias?
This is the body and mind’s reaction to pressure, danger, or demanding situations.
What is a stress response?
These are factors such as values, experiences, peers, media, and authority figures that shape what people believe and how they choose.
What is personal influence?
Jordan compares club meeting times, responsibilities, transportation, and interests before joining. Jordan is completing this step of decision making.
What is examining evidence?
“Everyone is buying this app, so it must be safe.” This reasoning uses one fallacy.
What is bandwagon?
A student believes a team is unfair and notices only calls against that team. This bias is affecting the student’s thinking.
What is confirmation bias?
Name one way stress can affect decision making.
What are narrowing attention, increasing emotional reactions, or encouraging quick choices?
Name two types of personal influence that could affect a student’s choice.
What are values, experiences, peers, media, or authority figures? Any two are correct.
Before choosing to stay up late to finish a project, a student thinks about how being tired may affect tomorrow's quiz and mood. This step helps the student prepare for possible results.
What is considering consequences?
“I wore lucky socks and won the game, so the socks caused the win.” This reasoning uses one fallacy.
What is false cause?
Mary hears negative things about another student and starts to treat her a certain type of way because of it. This bias is affecting this student's perception of the other based on the first information given to her.
What is anchoring bias?
During a tense conversation, a student feels unable to speak or choose what to do. This stress response is known by this name.
What is freeze?
A coach encourages a student to join a team. The coach is an example of this type of influence.
What is an authority figure?
Mia notices she is arguing with friends more often. She lists possible reasons, gathers examples, predicts how each choice may affect her friendships, decides to listen more carefully, and checks later whether the change is working. Name all five decision-making steps Mia uses.
What are define the problem, identify options, examine evidence, consider consequences, and choose an action?
“If we allow one late assignment, no one will meet deadlines and school will become impossible to manage.” This claim makes an unsupported chain prediction.
What is slippery slope?
A student’s risky choice works out well, so the student says the choice was good without considering whether the process was careful. This bias is affecting the student’s judgment.
What is outcome bias?
This brain area supports planning, evaluating consequences, and self-control, which may be harder to use effectively during stress.
What is the prefrontal cortex?
A student considers joining a team because a coach recommends it, their family values teamwork, and their sibling enjoyed playing. Explain how at least two influences interact.
What are influences from an authority figure and family values, or past experience? They can shape what the student values, notices, or expects.
A student chooses a club after checking only whether friends are joining. The student does not check the schedule or responsibilities. Explain what is missing from the student's decision-making process and why it matters.
What are examining evidence and considering consequences? Without checking the schedule and responsibilities, the student may face conflicts or regret the choice later.
A student dismisses a study idea by saying its leader is mean. Explain why this fallacy weakens the argument.
What is ad hominem? It attacks the person instead of addressing the plan’s evidence, costs, or benefits.
One person assumes their judgment is fully fair but points out that a friend is biased. Another person focuses only on one negative comment despite receiving mostly positive feedback. Name the two bias affecting each person.
What are bias blindness and negativity bias, respectively?
A student feels pressured to answer an upsetting message immediately. Name two strategies that could help the student make a more thoughtful decision, and explain how they help.
What are pausing, slow breathing, checking facts, asking for time, or talking with a trusted adult? These strategies can create space to think, evaluate information, and consider consequences.
A student feels pressured to buy something after seeing friends and online creators recommend it. Describe two ways the student could recognize and manage these influences before deciding.
What are checking whether the recommendations are supported by reliable evidence and taking time to consider personal needs and consequences? Other reasonable answers include comparing sources, asking a trusted adult, and pausing before buying.