Cognitive Bias

Retrievability Bias
I find myself using retrievability bias when I am driving in areas that I am not familiar with. This happens when I am traveling in an area I have only been in a few times. I try and pick out certain structures, houses, signs, or businesses. I use something in my memory to make a decision while driving and base my decision off that assumption.

Insensitivity to Sample Size
The best example I can think of where sample size had an effect on a past event is when my sister and I were at a bmx event at Woodward Camp. There were a couple of famous bmx bike riders there and the camp was giving away a signed bike for free. My sister and I both entered our names in the drawing. In order to win the bike, participants had to be present at the time of the drawing. I knew a lot of people were not going to stay that late so I convinced my mom to stay. The sample size was smaller because of everyone going home, therefore our chances of winning were greater. After drawing four names with none of the people present, my sisters name was drawn and we took the bike home with us that day.

The Politics of Going to College

I believe that Obama has started a trend and convinced many American’s that it is essential to continue your education after high school. I want to make a point as to why I believe this. The number of people that are living on this planet is increasing everyday, so the openings for jobs are slowly becoming scarce. Parents are raising their kids with the mindset that it is necessary to go to college so they do not have problems when it comes time to look for a career.  As college graduates are becoming older and having kids, they want to support a candidate that will allow their children to receive help from the government when it comes to paying for college. We can see this point being proven with the number of Democrats increasing that are “better-educated” and the growth of college-educated people entering the elections.

I think Santorum is going to have a hard time receiving votes from people who have a college degree because he believes that education is the responsibility of the consumer, the parent. He is not using rational thinking and considering the consequences associated with the idea that it is full responsibility for the parents to be paying for college. I think Romney is thinking rationally and is using conformity to support his thinking. On his website he made a point that is exactly what Obama said in the article, “post-secondary education cannot become a luxury for the few.” His decision is based off of what Americans want to see happen with our government funding towards higher education.