The Mayor of a Large City Announced That the Incidence

question 103

Multiple Choice

The mayor of a large city announced that the incidence of major crimes was down for the third year in a row. Yet a poll of residents who regularly watched the evening news on TV revealed that they still felt the frequency of criminal acts was high, and they felt unsafe living in the city. Which rule of thumb was responsible for the persistence of the residents' fears?

• A)Representativeness heuristic
• B)Persistence heuristic
• C)Anchoring and adjustment heuristic
• D)Availability heuristic

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Definitions:

Confounding Variables

Factors other than the independent variable that might influence the outcome of an experiment, making it difficult to isolate the effect of the independent variable.

Random Allocation

A method used in experiments where participants are assigned to different groups in a way that ensures each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any group.

Experimenter Bias

A phenomenon where the expectations or beliefs of the researcher unconsciously affect the outcome of an experiment.

Socially Desirable

Describes behaviors or responses that are likely to be approved of or valued by society or a social group.