Deck 8: Making Decisions and Problem Solving

Question 1

Being aware of the biases that may affect our thinking can help us avoid them.

Answer 1

True
Explanation: Being able to think clearly and without bias is the basis for critical thinking.

Question 2

_______ is the first step in solving any problem.

A)Generating alternatives
B)Separating fact from opinion
C)Defining the problem as clearly as possible
D)Imagining the outcome

Answer 2

C
Explanation: The first step in solving any problem is to be as clear as you can about what the problem is.

Question 3

Imagine that you have just graduated from college and are exploring various job opportunities.You have researched what each job involves,how likely you are to get it,and how the different workplaces compare with each other.What strategies might you use to make a final decision about which job to apply for?

Answer 3

Give the decision some time.Toss a coin.Make a mental movie,acting out each job.Ask for advice.Go with your gut feeling.

Question 4

When alternatives seem equally positive or negative to you,it might be a good idea to take some time making your decision.

Question 5

Major decisions are seldom reversible.

Question 6

Using simple common sense can be very helpful in making decisions.

Question 7

Every decision starts with

A)thinking through all your options.
B)clarifying the details of your situation.
C)identifying your short- and long-term goals.
D)creating a practical,do-able plan.

Question 8

List five strategies you might use in order to solve a complicated problem (for example,how to prioritize paying bills that total more than the amount in your checking account,how to solve a complicated algebra problem,or how to synthesize all the material you have researched for an end-of-term paper).Then provide a brief example of how you would apply one of them to a problem you recently confronted.

Question 9

What is one key step in assessing alternatives to make a decision?

A)to go with your gut feeling
B)to take another perspective
C)to consider your prior experiences
D)to determine possible outcomes for each alternative

Question 10

Decision making is the process of

A)thinking critically.
B)working backwards.
C)choosing from various alternatives.
D)using analogies.

Question 11

_________ is a useful way to generate a list of flexible alternatives.

A)Clearly identifying your goals
B)Freewriting continuously for five to ten minutes
C)Considering the outcomes of various options
D)Brainstorming with other students and friends

Question 12

Having fewer alternatives to choose from makes it easier to reach the right decision.

Question 13

Which of the following actions are common pitfalls in decision making and problem solving?

A)looking at a problem from all perspectives
B)confusing opinion with fact
C)jumping to conclusions
D)distinguishing between cause and effect
E)accepting vague generalities
F)Answers b,c,& d are correct

Question 14

"All college students who drink beer make less than a 4.0 G.P.A.It is obvious then that drinking beer lowers a student's grades." The person who made this statement believes that

A)myth is applicable to common sense.
B)truisms are factually true.
C)correlation proves causation.
D)generalities are definitive statements.

Question 15

Problem solving is focused on _________,while decision making is focused on choosing among alternatives.

A)generating alternatives
B)creating solutions
C)following guidelines
D)evaluating alternatives

Question 16

When making a decision,asking others for advice is not a recommended strategy.

Question 17

Every problem has a clear-cut solution.

Question 18

Listed below are some strategies that could be useful when choosing between several alternatives.Click all that your textbook indicates could be effective.

A)Give the decision time.
B)Procrastinate.
C)Play the alternatives out as "mental movies."
D)Toss a coin.
E)Hope the circumstances change so you don't have to make a decision.
F)Answers a,c,& d are correct

Question 19

In assessing alternatives,it is useful to compare them by taking into account their potential outcomes.

Question 20

When weighing a decision,you should assume all outcomes have an equal probability of occurring.

Question 21

Consider an important decision that you have made in the last six months (for example,selecting a major,choosing a new roommate,or starting a part-time job to help pay for school),state what it was,and list four questions you could ask yourself to evaluate whether you made the right choice.

Question 22

"There is no such thing as a bad movie." Do you consider this statement to be a fact or an opinion? Please explain your answer.