In 1984, Jennifer Thompson was a 22-year-old college student in North Carolina. One
night a man broke into her apartment, put a knife to her throat, and raped her.
According to her own account, Ms. Thompson studied her rapist throughout the
incident with great determination to memorize his face. Thompson identified Ronald
Cotton as the rapist, and she later testified against him at trial. She was positive it was
he, with no doubt in her mind. However, it was not until after Mr. Cotton had served 11
years in prison for a crime, he did not commit that conclusive DNA evidence indicated
that Bobby Poole was the actual rapist, and Cotton was released from jail. Analyze
various cognitive processes (biases) that are known to influence humans and That Pose
Threats to Accuracy in decision-making
Cognitive process bias refers to the systematic errors in the way individuals’ process
information often leading to accurate or incomplete conclusion. Such biases are;
i. Over-confidence Bias - This is the tendency to overestimate one’s own ability and
the accuracy of one’s judgement. Example; Ms. Thompson was over-confident that
Ronald Cotton was the rapist yet Ronald was innocent.
ii. Confirmation Bias - Is the tendency to remember information in a way that confirms
pre-existing beliefs.
iii. Availability Bias – Is the tendency to over-estimate the information that is readily
available or easily recalled.
iv. Framing Bias – Is the way the information’s presentation can influence. How people
perceive and evaluate it the way Ms. Thompson presented the information was
framing.
v. Anchoring Bias – the tendency to rely on the first piece of information encountered
when making a decision.
night a man broke into her apartment, put a knife to her throat, and raped her.
According to her own account, Ms. Thompson studied her rapist throughout the
incident with great determination to memorize his face. Thompson identified Ronald
Cotton as the rapist, and she later testified against him at trial. She was positive it was
he, with no doubt in her mind. However, it was not until after Mr. Cotton had served 11
years in prison for a crime, he did not commit that conclusive DNA evidence indicated
that Bobby Poole was the actual rapist, and Cotton was released from jail. Analyze
various cognitive processes (biases) that are known to influence humans and That Pose
Threats to Accuracy in decision-making
Cognitive process bias refers to the systematic errors in the way individuals’ process
information often leading to accurate or incomplete conclusion. Such biases are;
i. Over-confidence Bias - This is the tendency to overestimate one’s own ability and
the accuracy of one’s judgement. Example; Ms. Thompson was over-confident that
Ronald Cotton was the rapist yet Ronald was innocent.
ii. Confirmation Bias - Is the tendency to remember information in a way that confirms
pre-existing beliefs.
iii. Availability Bias – Is the tendency to over-estimate the information that is readily
available or easily recalled.
iv. Framing Bias – Is the way the information’s presentation can influence. How people
perceive and evaluate it the way Ms. Thompson presented the information was
framing.
v. Anchoring Bias – the tendency to rely on the first piece of information encountered
when making a decision.
