MCAT® ExamCritical Analysis and Reasoning SkillsMedium
A manager is reviewing an employee's performance over the past year. Although the employee's overall performance was consistently good, a recent minor mistake made by the employee looms large in the manager's mind, disproportionately influencing the final performance rating downwards. Which cognitive bias is the manager most likely exhibiting?
- AConfirmation Bias
- BHalo Effect
- CFundamental Attribution Error
- DRecency Effect
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Recency Effect
The recency effect describes the phenomenon where information presented last or most recently is remembered more accurately or has a greater impact than information presented earlier. In this case, the recent mistake, despite the year of good performance, is given undue weight.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Confirmation bias involves seeking out information that confirms existing beliefs. (Incorrect)
- B. The halo effect is a cognitive bias where a general impression of a person influences how one feels and thinks about their character. (Incorrect)
- C. The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional explanations for others' behavior while underemphasizing situational explanations. (Incorrect)
Recency Effect
The tendency to remember information presented at the end of a list or most recently better than information presented earlier.
- A component of the serial position effect.
- Influences memory and judgment.
- Can lead to biased evaluations if recent events are overemphasized.
Memory trick: Recent events stand out, like a fresh coat of paint.