Heuristics Lead to Predictable Biases and Inconsistencies Essay Example for Free

Heuristics Lead to Predictable Biases and Inconsistencies Essay The human brain is complex, most especially as a specimen for study regarding decision-making and problem solving. The brain uses very precise methods of compression in order to distinguish the most important features of a certain sensory data. Because of human error, these methods are not perfect. Humans obtain large numbers of sensory data a day, even terabytes worth to be more precise. Most of what a person sees within the day gets erased from his memory, yet tiny pieces of data remain. These are converted into symbolic format, which would connect to the person’s experiences once he is in contact with it. When the sensory data gets abstracted it then becomes symbolical to the person and taken from long-term memory, certain biasing effects arise. â€Å"Biases also operate when the symbols are invoked and manipulated for cognitive operations. † The results of these are our belief systems, representation and anchoring. Anchoring refers to the process where people form beliefs around an anchor and every incoming data should relate towards that anchor even though significantly irrelevant. Representation â€Å"occurs when people expect their outputs to resemble the generating process.† Yet representation doesn’t prove efficient and always true, and this is due mainly because of human bias. Representation and anchoring are examples of heuristics. They are more commonly described as â€Å"rules of thumb† which humans use in reasoning in cognitively economical ways. These are inscribed in the human brain, and it is the same for all, as we all have a pair of hands and a pair of eyes. Heuristics started in the late 1960s and early 1970s and devised by Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman where they focused their studies on human judgment. Heuristics replaced rational judgment and the algorithmic method where they theorized that judgment in uncertainty rests on a limited number of heuristics rather than other more complicated methods. Heuristics became accepted and spread upon almost all forms of knowledge – economics, medicine, law, psychology and political science. This study was revolutionary in its time because â€Å"it simultaneously questioned the descriptive adequacy of ideal models of judgment and offered a cognitive alternative that explained human error without invoking motivated irrationality. † Kahneman and Tversky’s study revolved around the assumption of â€Å"bounded rationality†. In their study, they have also showed that humans indeed are very limited in processing and are probable to erroneous judgment, they attest to the earlier models of judgment where not fit to humans since they are much simpler than what is really happens in human decision making. After wide acceptance and a moving away from the rational decision-making patterns devised in the past, where humans are thought to always choose the best decision by means of probability, Heuristics is still seen to have inconsistencies and laden with biases. The whole concept of Heuristics gives a structured way of problem solving, taking into consideration human brain function and capacity which inevitably makes the process easier. As compared to the old model of thinking where humans are always seen to know probability and choose the best way based on probability computation, Heuristics give a deeper understanding of the human condition. Some failures of heuristics enter when it is presented with data that is not part of its â€Å"domain of expertise† or what is already previously calculated. Biases are a key error in using heuristics for problem solving. A cognitive bias is defined as â€Å"any of a wide range of observer effects identified in cognitive science and social psychology including very basic statistical, social attribution, and memory errors that are common to all human beings. † Biases that are in direct relation to decision making and problem solving affect scientific methods technically designed to eliminate these exact chances of bias. Biases in Heuristics are difficult to notice for three reasons. First, the human thinking process that is used to judge and assess in problem solving is in itself full of biases. Second, biases are common and widespread that it is difficult to notice and third, the decisions that are made through the use of Heuristics feel good therefore it satisfies the person, regardless if it right or wrong. According to a University of Pennsylvania law school research paper, principal findings in behavioral economics and cognitive psychology through the years have shown in studies that humans â€Å"deviate from ideal precepts of rationality in many settings, showcasing inconsistent judgment in the face of framing and other formal manipulations of the presentation of problems.† In their research paper entitled, â€Å"Heuristics and Biases in Thinking About Tax†, they have suggested that citizens especially in the United States suffer from a wide range of biases in the understanding of the basic features of the tax-law design and reform, like the perceptual biases more studied in the domain of the private markets, like the evaluation of â€Å"risky choice† and consumer finances. The main goal of the paper was to show that in evaluating the tax systems present in the country, citizens are vulnerable and exhibit a wide range of Heuristics and biases, which lead to inconsistent judgment and evaluation. Prevalence of these biases show that there is indeed room for â€Å"skillful† politicians and facile political systems to â€Å"manipulate public opinion, and that tax system design will reflect a certain volatility on account of the possibility of eliciting preference reversals through purely formal rhetorical means. † Due to the inconsistencies and biases of Heuristics, decision theorists have studied this phenomenon more closely. It turned into a respected field, founded by of Kahneman and Tversky, commonly known as â€Å"Heuristics and biases.† Heuristics may work well in problem solving, but can also turn to harmful biases. A few examples of heuristics and biases include Framing, which means viewing a need in the real world as a â€Å"problem† you can work on solving and the counterpart bias is mistaking your view of the problem for the real need. Status quo, a heuristic that implies â€Å"Business as Usual† or â€Å"If it ain’t broke don’t fix it† may incur bias against anything new. Cognitive overconfidence is the same as decisiveness and refusal to be haunted by doubt which may lead to the bias of self-delusion. The Heuristic Prudent Estimation means â€Å"conservative estimates† which may lead to missed opportunities which are especially dangerous in group problem solving. Most likely scenario has the Heuristic explanation of avoiding wasting time on possibilities that probably won’t happen, but the bias is rare events can be the most important. Guessing at patterns implies quickly spotting the trend or the big picture, with a corresponding bias of â€Å"Outguessing randomness† and seeing patterns that doesn’t exist. The last example Recall ability or Availability which implies, if an idea doesn’t fit in with the obvious data, it’s surely suspect. The corresponding bias for this is, non-obvious things can be most important or even most common. These examples of Heuristics are common in everyday life, and these rules of thumb do help in assessing situations such as deals in business, economics, or day to day domestic problems. It is common knowledge that these Heuristics can fail predictably, which are also known as â€Å"hidden traps† when a person succumbs to the counterpart bias. It is already a given that Heuristics bring about inconsistencies and biases, but there are some methods of control. For example, for the Heuristic Framing, advice is to not automatically accept initial framing, strive for objective neutral framing, and challenge other people’s framings. These are remedies to biased formed Heuristics, which will generally help in problem solving, whichever stage of the problem the person is at.

Animal Farm vs. The Godfather :: compare contrast

Animal Farm vs. The Godfather George Orwell and Mario Puzo wrote Animal Farm and â€Å"The Godfather† (from the book The Godfather), respectively, to express their disillusionment with society and human nature. Animal Farm, written in 1944, is a book that tells the animal fable of a farm in which the farm animals revolt against their human masters. It is an example of social criticism in literature in which Orwell satirized the events in Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution. He anthropomorphizes the animals, and eludes each one to a counter part in Russian history. The movie â€Å"The Godfather†, directed by Francis Ford Coppula, also typifies this kind of literature. Besides the central theme of mob life, is another prevalent theme, that of a revolution gone bad. He shows us that, unfortunately, human nature causes us to be vengeful and, for some of us, overly ambitious. Both of these works are similar in that both describe how, even with the best of intentions, our ambitions get the best of us. Both of the authors also demonstrate that violence and the Machiavellian attitude of â€Å"the ends justifying the means† are deplorable. George Orwell wrote Animal Farm, â€Å"†¦ to discredit the Soviet system by showing its inhumanity and its back-sliding from ideals [he] valued†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gardner, 106) Orwell noted, â€Å"there exists in England almost no literature of disillusionment with the Soviet Union.’ Instead, that country is viewed either with ignorant disapproval’ or with uncritical admiration.’† (Orwell, 10) The other animals take this utopian idea to heart, and one day actually do revolt and drive the humans out. Two pigs emerge as leaders: Napoleon and Snowball. They constantly argued, but one day, due to a difference over plans to build a windmill, Napoleon exiled Snowball. Almost immediately, Napoleon established a totalitarian government. Soon, the pigs began to get special favors, until finally, they were indistinguishable from humans to the other animals. Immediately the reader can begin to draw parallels between the book’s characters and the government in 1914-1944 Russia. For example, Old Major, who invented the idea of â€Å"animalism,† is seen as representing Karl Marx, the creator of communism. Snowball represents Trotksy, a Russian leader after the revolution. He was driven out by Napoleon, who represents Stalin, the most powerful figure in the country. Napoleon then proceeded to remove the freedoms of the animals, and established a dictatorship, under the public veil of â€Å"animalism.

Brainology Essay Essay

Carol S. Dweck wrote an article talking about transforming student’s motivation to learn. In the article, he states that there are two types of mindsets; the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. Dweck describes the fixed mindset as students who worry about how much the intelligence they posse is fixed, whereas students believe that the growth mindset is potential intelligence that can be learned. He explains that confronting challenges, profiting from mistakes, and dealing with setbacks is a way of becoming smarter. Dweck talks about how in the 1990s parents and schools felt that the most important thing or students was self-esteem. They felt that if students felt good about themselves then they would be good and successful in life. Dweck also talks about students being praised for their intelligence vs. being praised for their effort. At the end of the article, Carlos discuss how our society worships talent and how our talent is portrayed as a gift. He explains how worshiping talent was not motivating to our students. After reading this article, I’ve learned that it’s better to have a growth mindset because the more I challenge myself to grow with intelligence the more chances I will have of becoming successful. I always knew that it was important to learn and never give up but I never took it serious. I now see the importance of never giving up. I feel like now I can motivate myself to keep going no matter how tough things get and to always accept in any challenge in my classes because that’s the only way I can really enhance my intelligence. Also after reading this article, I see the importance of being praised for my hard work and effort rather than my talents.

Technology And Its Effect On Students - 2001 Words

Introduction The subject of technology has become something of relevance because of the facilitated access that the student population to new technologies. Technology is integrated into many different activities, when looking at the student population it seen that the Internet is commonly used for research to obtain information. The integration of technology into learning environments is something that is commonly seen. The use of technology in schools such as computers and smartphones on a daily basis has become common for many different reasons, such as communication and educational purposes. Research has shown that technology, specifically computers and smartphones, can improve young adults academic outcome through technology incorporation into the learning environment. The use of other types of technology including software’s, Type II applications of information technology, and other tools could also be useful incorporations in young adults education. These types of technology allow online education; they create interaction between students and teachers. They have also allowed universities and colleges to offer online degrees. These tools, software and Type II applications, are available on computers and are accessible to anyone since they are often free to download. The integration of technology and teachers capable of understanding and educating students about the technology, as well a s technological tools in classrooms are crucial in order to advance young adultShow MoreRelatedTechnology And Its Effect On Students881 Words   |  4 PagesOver the past decade leading edge advancements in technology have brought many new ways for students to learn. All the hours in a day that young kids, teenagers, and even adults spend using some sort of technology device, it opens a whole new dimension of learning methods. Although technology has brought up concerns of whether it is really benefiting students or taking focus away from their studies. â€Å"What we’re labeling as ‘distraction,’ some see as a failure of adults to see how these kids processRead MoreTechnology And Its Effect On Students Essay1426 Words   |  6 PagesTechnology, in and of itself, is great. Whether the technology is a computer or a smartphone, it is helpful to have. Now students do not have to rifle through multiple encyclopedias trying to find information; they can quickly sear ch something up via the internet. It has made getting information easier than ever. With that being said, there are positives and negatives in technology, which will be explored. Technology, especially devices that can connect to the internet, when used correctly, is aRead MoreEssay on The Effects of Technology on Students855 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effects of Technology on Students Change is constant. Though one may not be able to see the change, one can look back through the course of a year or maybe even a few months and see the change. Technology has transformed with our culture. There are many benefits for students with the new advancements of technology. Teachers have seen many of these benefits with the influence of technology on their students. Many students find a sense of accomplishment when working with technologyRead MoreThe Effect of Technology on Student Learning Essay664 Words   |  3 Pagesand more technology oriented. Many classrooms are embracing new technology and using it in the context of the classroom. There are many education-based games that are designed specifically for electronic devices to aid in teaching children. â€Å"Storytime Using iPods: Using Technology to Reach all Learners† by Boeglin-Quintana and Donavan and â€Å"A Tablet Computer for Young Children? Exploring Its Viability for Early Childhood Education† by Couse and Chen are two studies that explored the effect of technologyRead MoreEffects of Modern Technology Among Students3801 Words   |  16 Pagesdigitization of social and economic life it has become a very important need of skilful and flexible use of ever more sophisticated tools and technologies. At once, thanks to modern technologies, acquisition of knowledge, skills and qualifications has become faster, easier and more efficient. In this paper it has been made an aim to estimate the use of modern technologies, in particular internet, such as: amplified reality, videoconferences online in real time, strategic games, social networking sitesRead MoreThe Effects Of Technology On Students Attitudes Education Essay1995 Words   |  8 PagesTechnology Has Positive Effects On Students Attitudes Education Technology has evolved and grown rapidly. This is the reason why technology plays a major role in modern life that affects all the aspect of human activities. Therefore, our societies get a lot of benefits from modern technology. Universities and colleges for example have so many facilities. Such as labs with sophisticated computer devices, internet connections with high speed, projectors and smart boards. Using these developed toolsRead MoreEffects of Modern Technology to Learning Habits of the Students1471 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY TO STUDENTS† A Research Paper Submitted to: Professor Rhona Theresa S. Sambrano, M.A.T School of Medical Laboratory Science Far Eastern University Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation In Partial Fulfilment of the requirements for English 2 Albarico, Karl Marco S. Lim, Patrick Joseph C. March 2016 APPROVAL SHEET The research paper entitled â€Å"A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY†; prepared and submitted by Patrick Joseph C. LimRead MoreThe Effect Of Technology On Students Enthusiasm For Learning Science821 Words   |  4 Pagesnowadays technology is being used in the classroom† (Daniel, 2011). Students learning with technology. â€Å"The effect of technology on students’ enthusiasm for learning science (both at school and away from school) was investigated† (Hollis, 1995). It will foster a great learning experience for the students. â€Å"Enthusiasm for learning science can be defined as the students’ eagerness to participate in science activities in the classroom, as well as away from school† (Hollis, 1995). Using technology toRead MoreThe Effects Of Technology On Classroom Practices And Student Outcomes1564 Words   |  7 Pagesparticipants should be ensured at all times and the research should be conducted in an ethical manner (Na tional Health and Medical Research Council, 2015, p.5). In the aforementioned research, studying the effects the investment of technology throughout their school was having on classroom practices and student outcomes – specifically in mathematics and science teaching, many ethical considerations must be taken into account. Researchers must have received the appropriate consent from all stakeholders, ensuredRead MoreThe Effect of Modern Lifestyle (Technology) on Student Productivity3992 Words   |  16 PagesTOPIC: THE EFFECT OF MODERN LIFESTYLE (TECHNOLOGY) ON STUDENT PRODUCTIVITY 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of study Over the past few decades, technology has been drastically changing the way our society functions. The current generation is becoming completely dependent on new technologies. According to â€Å"Peter H. Martorella – 1997† Technology has opened the world of communication in a way before inexperienced. It also allows for more tasks to be completed in less time. In essence, technology has made