What is a cognitive bias?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To tackle the question, I will evaluate what each option claims about a cognitive bias and compare it to the standard psychology definition.
Option a: 'A deliberate attempt to mislead others' — This describes deception or manipulation. While bias can influence judgments, a cognitive bias is not defined as a conscious tactic to mislead; it is typically an unconscious pattern of thinking. Therefore this statement mischaracterizes bias.
Option b: 'A random mistake in reasoning' — Cognitive biases are systematic, not random. They arise from mental shortcuts and known heuristics that consistently lead to predictable errors, so labeling them as random misses the essential systematic nature.
Option c: 'A logical argument that is always valid' — This is essentially the opposite of what a bias is. A cognitive bias leads to flawed conclusions, not a perfectly valid, universally sound argument. Hence this option is incorrect.
Option d: 'A systematic error in thinking' — This matches the established definition well: biases are repeatable, predictable distortions in judgment that arise from the brain’s reliance on heuristics and cognitive shortcuts. The word 'systematic' captures the non-random, patterned nature of biases.
Option e: 'A statistical method for decision-making' — Cognitive biases are not methods or techniques; they are cognitive phenomena that affect judgment. This option conflates bias with a methodological approach, which is inaccurate.
Overall, options a, b, c, and e each contain a core inaccuracy or mischaracterization about what a cognitive bias is, whereas option d accurately identifies it as a systematic error in thinking. The correct concept aligns with the idea that biases arise from regular, patterned deviations in reasoning rather than random or deliberate processes.

CCST9086_1A_2025 Quiz4

What is a cognitive bias?

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