Instructions: Read the information below and answer the questions to learn core AP concepts. For definitions, write them in your own words based on the content or look up a different definition if directed by your teacher (e.g., via apa.org or Google Scholar).

Content:
Cognitive biases are systematic errors in thinking that affect decisions and judgments.
The confirmation bias leads people to favor information supporting their beliefs (e.g., ignoring evidence against a favored team).
The availability heuristic causes overestimation of events based on vivid memories (e.g., fearing plane crashes after news reports).
The hindsight bias makes outcomes seem obvious after they occur (e.g., “I knew it all along” after a game).
Functional fixedness limits seeing alternative uses for objects (e.g., using a shoe only as footwear).
The anchoring bias occurs when people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive (e.g., initial salary offers influencing final negotiations).
The representativeness heuristic involves judging probabilities based on stereotypes or superficial similarities (e.g., assuming someone is a librarian because they seem quiet and bookish).
Overconfidence bias is the tendency to overestimate one's knowledge or abilities (e.g., drivers who think they're safer than average).
Survivorship bias focuses only on successful examples while ignoring failures (e.g., studying only thriving startups without considering the 90% that fail).

Example: A student overestimates exam success due to the availability heuristic, recalling only past successes, while anchoring on an early high score and ignoring preparation gaps.

Biases can lead to poor decisions, like misjudging risks. Emotional states and social pressures amplify biases, affecting behaviors like voting or spending.

Guided Activity

1 - Define cognitive bias in your own words: _______________________________
Define confirmation bias in your own words: _______________________________
2 - Define availability heuristic in your own words: _______________________________
3 - Define anchoring bias in your own words: _______________________________
4 - Define representativeness heuristic in your own words: _______________________________
5 - Define overconfidence bias in your own words: _______________________________
6 - Explain how the hindsight bias influences a behavior, using a specific example:

7 - Explain how functional fixedness influences a behavior, using a different example:

8 - Explain how the representativeness heuristic influences a behavior, using another example:

9 - How do cognitive biases affect decision-making in social situations?

10 - Why might emotional states amplify cognitive biases?

11 - How could the availability heuristic lead to a risky behavior?

12 - How might overconfidence bias contribute to poor planning in group projects?

Instructions: Work in pairs to complete the three tasks below. Write your answers and be prepared to share one key point from each task with the class.

Task 1: Scenario Analysis: Scenario: A student assumes they’ll ace a test because they did well last time, ignoring their lack of preparation.
Analyze how the availability heuristic, confirmation bias, and overconfidence bias contribute to this behavior.
For example, consider how vivid memories, selective focus, or inflated self-assessment shape their judgment. Your Response for Task 1: Explain the role of each bias in the behavior.

Task 2: Case Application: Imagine a manager who overlooks a qualified candidate due to a negative first impression and a stereotype based on appearance.
Apply the concepts of confirmation bias, hindsight bias, and representativeness heuristic to explain their decision.
For example, evaluate how initial beliefs, post-decision rationalization, or superficial judgments affect their choice.

Your Response for Task 2: Apply the concepts to explain the manager’s decision.

Task 2: Real-World Extension:
Discuss how survivorship bias might affect an entrepreneur's view of business success, such as only reading stories of famous CEOs while ignoring failed ventures. Analyze its interaction with anchoring bias (e.g., fixating on an initial high estimate of success rates). Your Response for Task 3: Describe the biases and their combined impact.

Assignment

Instructions: Read the study summaries below and answer the questions. If directed by your teacher, use a classroom device to find a related study (e.g., via apa.org or Google Scholar) to deepen your analysis. Study Summary 1: A 2018 study found that people were more likely to believe news aligning with their political views, demonstrating confirmation bias in media consumption.

Question 1: How does this study show the impact of confirmation bias on behavior, and what might influence its strength?

Study Summary 2: A 2020 study showed that individuals overestimated the likelihood of rare events (e.g., shark attacks) after vivid media coverage, reflecting the availability heuristic.

Question 2: Evaluate how this study illustrates the availability heuristic’s effect on behavior, and suggest one factor that might reduce its impact.

Study Summary 3: A 2022 experimental study on consumer price judgments revealed that anchoring bias significantly influenced purchase decisions, with participants sticking closely to initial price suggestions even when alternatives were better.

Question 3: How does this study demonstrate anchoring bias in everyday economic behavior, and how might it interact with overconfidence to exacerbate poor choices?

Study Summary 4: A 2025 study on decision-making found that overconfidence bias led entrepreneurs to overestimate project success rates, particularly when combined with survivorship bias from focusing only on visible successes.

Question 4: Analyze how this study highlights the behavioral risks of overconfidence and survivorship biases, and propose a strategy to mitigate them in real-world planning.

AP Exam Connection: This practices analyzing and evaluating research, a key skill for FRQs.

AP Exam Practice

Instructions: Answer the question below. We’ll review answers as a class to learn exam strategies.

Free-Response Question (FRQ): Explain how confirmation bias, availability heuristic, hindsight bias, anchoring bias, and representativeness heuristic interact to influence a specific behavior (e.g., decision-making in hiring, risk assessment in investments, or social judgment in elections).

Provide one example for each factor (confirmation bias, availability heuristic, hindsight bias, anchoring bias, representativeness heuristic) and analyze how they interact to shape the behavior.

Closure

Instructions: Write a brief summary (2–3 sentences) of three key ideas you learned today about how cognitive biases influence behavior.

Extended Practice

Instructions: Complete the tasks below based on today’s lesson to reinforce AP skills.

  1. Review your answers from this lesson.
  2. Write a detailed paragraph (5–7 sentences) applying today’s topic to a real-life behavior (e.g., how biases affect your choices in school, social media, or career planning). Include references to confirmation bias, availability heuristic, hindsight bias, anchoring bias, representativeness heuristic, overconfidence bias, and survivorship bias, and explain their interaction.
  1. Find a short article or study on cognitive biases and behavior (e.g., via apa.org) and write 2–3 sentences summarizing its relevance to today’s lesson. Cite the source (e.g., website or article title).
Last modified: Sunday, 19 October 2025, 11:28 PM