Thinking and Biases

• Concept


  Cluster of cognitive raw material. Hard to exist alone, because it's either forgotten or added to another one. Like a magnet in a junk drawer
• Prototype


  Great abstract example, but not a perfect one, so like a labrador retriever is a pretty good one for all dogs
• Exemplar


  A great example from experience, but experience is limited, so think of a dog--> you think of a dog you've met
• Artificial concept


  A perfect example like in geometry, where what you think of is what the thing is 100% of the time (like a circle is a circle). Rare in real life
• Informal reasoning


  Fast thinking. When we come up with an answer in tenths of a second, without necessarily considering all possibilities
• Formal reasoning


  Slow thinking. When we take time and concentration to be sure of our answers
• Informal processing functions:

  • heuristics
  • top-down processing
  • schema
  • mental set
  • mental model
• Formal processing functions:

  • Algorithm
  • Bottom up processing
  • Syllogisms
  • Diagnoses
  • Artificial intelligence
• Heuristics


  Informal processing method that are shortcuts, often based on experience. Ex. looking in the place you're most likely to find something
• Top down processing


  Informal processing method where you already have the gist of a situation before getting the details, so like knowing a chair is a chair without being told
• Schema


  Informal processing where a set of ideas or concepts is used to view a problem, so thinking like a teacher to solve real life problems as a teacher
• Mental set


  Informal processing similar to schemas that is a way of thinking that's worked before, so like if you work more it should pay off. Can have issues
• Mental model


  Informal process that is a way of thinking of things, like if you throw a brick at a glass window, it will probably break
• Algorithm


  Formal reasoning that is a step by step process, like finding your lost keys by searching your house in a 1x1 grid. Inefficient but definitely will work
• Bottom up processing


  Formal reasoning where you gather as many bits of information as possible before making a conclusion, so like scientific method and legal proceedings
• Syllogism


  Formal reasoning using logic that determines if A=B and B=C then A=C. Can be hard but can be improved in school
• Diagnosis


  Formal reasoning by eliminating wrong answers in step by step processing
• Artificial intelligence


  Formal reasoning similar to algorithm. Facial recognition, auto-complete, self-driving cars
• Cognitive biases


  The result of using imperfect thinking strategies. Results can be used to create even more wrong answers
• Representativeness heuristic


  Thinking that a new thing that has a few characteristics of a schema will fit nicely into that schema
• Availability heuristic


  When a strategy easily comes to mind. Many students use the strat they're the most familiar with and end up using a less efficient one
• Anchoring bias


  A powerful or emotional thought weighs down the rest of the mind. Every mom who has read an article about teens and then decides to do something rash
• Confirmation bias


  When people have preconceived notions, then subscribe to sources that support it and ignore other things
• Hindsight bias


  Idea that you knew what was going to happen all along
• Fixedness


  Not being able to see a problem from a different point of view, like a teacher who sees difficult kids as a problem instead of someone who needs help
• Framing effect


  The way you say something influences how the other person thinks. e.g. have a nice day vs enjoy your next 24 hours
• Illusory correlation


  Just because things happen near each other doesn't mean they have a connection. Circumstantial evidence
• Functional fixedness


  Not understanding that a thing can be though of or used in more than one way
• Belief perseverance


  Even when presented with concrete evidence to the contrary, a persn will hold on to their wrong beliefs