Question 1

Is it useful to compare how people make social inferences to a normative model of how people should form judgments? If not, then what might be a better approach, and why?

Accepted Answer

It can be useful to compare how people make social inferences to a normative model of how people should form judgments in certain contexts. By doing so, researchers can gain insights into the cognitive processes and biases that may lead individuals to deviate from rational or normative decision-making. This can help identify areas for intervention or education to improve decision-making in social contexts.

However, it is also important to recognize that human judgment and decision-making are influenced by a wide range of factors, including emotions, social norms, and individual differences. Therefore, a better approach may be to take a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to understanding social inferences. This could involve integrating insights from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and other disciplines to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how people form judgments in social contexts.

Additionally, it may be valuable to consider the cultural and contextual factors that influence social inferences, as these can vary widely across different societies and situations. By taking a more nuanced and context-specific approach, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of social judgment and decision-making.

In summary, while comparing social inferences to normative models can be useful, a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach that considers individual, cultural, and contextual factors may provide a better understanding of how people form judgments in social situations.

Question 2

In a controversial 1977 paper, Nisbett and Wilson made a certain claim about cognitive processes. Describe the claim and the empirical evidence. Do you agree with the authors? Describe why or why not in 2-3 sentences.

Accepted Answer

a. Claim: people have little or no introspective access to their cognitive processes.
b. Studies: In "consumer preferences" study, participants show serial position effect right-most item more favorable), but explain preference as due to qualities of the garment itself.

Question 3

Name and describe three reasons why social inference often fails to match normative models.

Accepted Answer

a. Meeting alternative goals.
b. The social perceiver operates not only under accuracy pressures but also under efficiency pressures, making inferences quickly in a rapidly changing environment with multiple demands.
c. Capacity limitations on short-term memory.

Question 4

Briefly describe the "law of large numbers." In what ways do people understand, or misunderstand, its implications? How does this relate to sample selection? Briefly discuss some of the implications for psychological research.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly describe the "law of large numbers."...

Question 5

Should we allow computers to make social inferences for us? Why or why not or, under which circumstances, and why)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Should we allow computers to make social...

Question 6

Are normative models of inference always optimal? Describe a situation in which a normative model and an intuitive model might reach different inferences. Briefly discuss the consequences.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Are normative models of inference always optimal?...

Exam 8: Section 2: Accuracy and Efficiency in Social Interference