About this quiz
How well do you understand the mental shortcuts that shape your thinking? Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from rational judgment that affect every decision we make. From the anchoring effect to confirmation bias, these mental quirks influence how we perceive information, evaluate risk, and make choices. This quiz tests your knowledge of the most important cognitive biases identified by psychologists and behavioral economists, helping you recognize them in everyday life so you can make sharper, more deliberate decisions.
Before you start
Curious learners using psychology ideas for self-reflection and better everyday decisions.
Recognize Anchoring effect and explain the reasoning behind it.
10 explanation-backed questions in about 12 minutes.
A small map of the test
- 1What is the 'anchoring effect'?
- 2Which bias causes people to continue investing in a failing project because of past investment?
- 3What does 'confirmation bias' describe?
- 4The 'availability heuristic' leads people to judge the likelihood of events based on:
- 5Which phenomenon describes people's tendency to overestimate their own competence in areas where they have limited knowledge?
- 6What is 'hindsight bias'?
Who this quiz is for
- Curious learners using psychology ideas for self-reflection and better everyday decisions.
- Best for medium practice when you want explanations after every answer.
What you should understand afterward
- Recognize Anchoring effect and explain the reasoning behind it.
- Connect Sunk cost fallacy with the broader psychology topic.
- Use the answer explanations to identify weak spots before retaking the quiz.
Ideas this quiz checks
Anchoring effect
The anchoring effect occurs when people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they encounter (the 'anchor') when making decisions.
Sunk cost fallacy
The sunk cost fallacy is the tendency to continue a behavior or endeavor because of previously invested resources (time, money, effort) even when the rational choice is to stop.
Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values.
Availability heuristic
The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut where people estimate the probability of an event based on how easily an example comes to mind.
Dunning-Kruger effect
The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where people with limited knowledge or competence in a domain greatly overestimate their own knowledge or competence.
Hindsight bias
Hindsight bias — often called the 'I-knew-it-all-along' effect — is the tendency to perceive past events as having been more predictable than they really were.
How to read your score
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80–100%
Strong command
You understand most of the core ideas and can use the explanations to polish smaller gaps.
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50–79%
Solid base
You know part of the topic, but the missed explanations are the highest-value review material.
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0–49%
Review first
Treat this as a starting map: revisit the key concepts, then retake the quiz for a cleaner signal.
Recommended next steps
- Read the explanation for every missed question before starting another quiz.
- Review Anchoring effect, then retake the quiz to check retention.
- Use the related psychology quizzes and articles to reinforce the same topic from another angle.
Educational disclaimer
This quiz is educational and self-reflective only. It is not psychological, clinical, diagnostic, or mental health advice.
Instructions
- You have 12 minutes total to answer 10 multiple-choice questions.
- Choose an answer to lock it in. The runner immediately shows the correct answer and explanation.
- Use Hint when you want a nudge, or Skip to move forward without answering.
- Keyboard shortcuts: A-D answer, H hints, S skips, Enter/→ next, and ← previous.
- No signup required. Your progress is local to this quiz session.