Cognitive Biases

Read this tutorial, which describes some examples of cognitive biases. These biases are ways of thinking that lead us to make poor inferences. Being able to identify cognitive biases helps us to improve our own reasoning and helps us to assess other people’s reasoning.

Please answer this question first before proceeding:


In this tutorial we discuss cognitive biases. These are certain pervasive thinking habits which threaten objectivity and lead to errors in reasoning. Most of us have cognitive biases and it is difficult to get rid of them. Psychologists are interested in cognitive biases because they may tell us about human nature and how our brain is organized. Cognitive biases are relevant to many other areas, such as economics, management, advertising, education, and politics.


Cognitive biases are certain pervasive thinking habits which are likely to lead to errors in reasoning, but which seem to be a common part of human psychology. The study of cognitive biases is a important part of cognitive science and psychology, and relevant to economics, management and education.

§1. Some Examples of Cognitive Biases

Confirmation Bias


Framing Bias


Overconfidence Effect (the Above Average Effect)


§2. Biases Relating to Probability


Clustering Illusion


Gambler's Fallacy


Source: Joe Lau and Jonathan Chan,

Last modified: Wednesday, September 11, 2019, 3:08 PM