• Australian Catholic University

• PSYC 100

Effortless Decisions: The Effectiveness of Recognition Heuristic as a Cue to

Determine Capital Cities

Jessica Bowden

Australian Catholic University

PSYC100: Foundations of Psychology

29/04/2020

Word count: 1635

Tutor: Dr. Ying Yang

Tutorial: Tuesday 10am

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Abstract

Heuristics have continued to be an effective tool used to reduce effort when making

decisions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether recognition is

used as a cue to identify the capital from pairs of cities. Thus, it is hypothesised the

highest number of correct answers as the capital would be the most recognisable

cities. 450 Australian Catholic University students studying PSYC100 were selected

to participate in a questionnaire at Strathfield, Melbourne and Brisbane campuses.

The questionnaire listed 20 pairs of American cities, one city as the most recognisable

and the other the least recognisable. Participants highlighted which city was the

capital and anonymously recorded their score, age and gender. As hypothesised, the

highest number of answers as the capital was the most recognisable cities, suggesting

recognition is used to make judgments when little knowledge is available. Possible

limitations highlight future research suggestions such as a larger sample size of

different education, culture, age and gender to replicate the general population.

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Effortless Decisions: The Effectiveness of Recognition Heuristic as a Cue to

Determine Capital Cities

Recognition acknowledges the existence of memory as a cue for decision

making. Associated with problem solving, heuristics are effective strategies used to

reach solutions fast, specifically recognition heuristic. Highlighting the importance of

recognition as a strongly used cue to make easy and effortless decisions.

In previous studies, recognition heuristic has proven to assist answers.

Goldstein and Gigerenzer (2002), explore the use of the recognition heuristic as a cue

to determine size populations. 22 students from the University of Chicago were

instructed through a questionnaire to choose the largest city from pairs of German

cities (Goldstein & Gigerenzer, 2002). Additionally, participants ticked which cities

they recognised to determine the range of recognition used in the experiment. Results

indicated the use of recognition ranged between 73% - 100% and the mean 90%

(Goldstein & Gigerenzer, 2002). Suggesting recognition heuristic proved to be a

strongly relied cue to make estimated population sizes.