heuristics

Meaning: A heuristic is a mental shortcut that simplifies a judgment or problem so it can be handled quickly. It works well when time or information is limited, but it can skip relevant information and so produce systematic errors. An algorithm, by contrast, is a step-by-step procedure that yields the correct answer when followed correctly, but it can be slow. Three standard examples are the availability heuristic (judging likelihood by how easily examples come to mind), the representativeness heuristic (judging by how well something matches a prototype, often neglecting base rates), and anchoring and adjustment (starting from an initial value and adjusting too little).

On the MCAT: Passages describe a decision or estimate, such as overrating the risk of a dramatic event after heavy news coverage, and ask which heuristic explains it. Other questions contrast heuristics with algorithms or link them to biases in judgment and decision-making.

Common confusion: Students treat a heuristic as a bias or as a mistake. The heuristic is the shortcut, which often gives a good answer; a bias is the systematic error it can produce. To separate two common ones: availability depends on ease of recall, while representativeness depends on resemblance to a prototype.