An Investigation of the Representativeness Heuristic: The Case of a Multiple Choice Exam

Egan J. Chernoff; Ami Mamolo; Rina Zazkis

doi:10.12973/eurasia.2016.1252a

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Egan J. Chernoff ¹ ^* , Ami Mamolo ², Rina Zazkis ³

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¹ University of Saskatchewan, CANADA² University of Ontario Institute of Technology, CANADA³ Simon Fraser University, CANADA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

By focusing on a particular alteration of the comparative likelihood task, this study contributes to research on teachers’ understanding of probability. Our novel task presented prospective teachers with multinomial, contextualized sequences and asked them to identify which was least likely. Results demonstrate that determinants of representativeness (featured in research on binomial, platonic sequences) are present in the current situation as well. In identifying a variety of context-related features influencing teachers’ choices, we suggest the context in which tasks are presented significantly influences probabilistic judgments; however, contextual consideration also provides researchers with potential difficulties for analyzing results. In addition, we identify strands for further research of contextual influence.

Keywords

answer key
context
multiple choice
probability
representativeness
sequences

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 12, Issue 4, April 2016, 1009-1031

https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2016.1252a

Publication date: 17 Jun 2016

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Article Downloads: 1917

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How to cite this article

APA

Chernoff, E. J., Mamolo, A., & Zazkis, R. (2016). An Investigation of the Representativeness Heuristic: The Case of a Multiple Choice Exam. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 12(4), 1009-1031. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2016.1252a

Vancouver

Chernoff EJ, Mamolo A, Zazkis R. An Investigation of the Representativeness Heuristic: The Case of a Multiple Choice Exam. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2016;12(4):1009-31. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2016.1252a

AMA

Chernoff EJ, Mamolo A, Zazkis R. An Investigation of the Representativeness Heuristic: The Case of a Multiple Choice Exam. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2016;12(4), 1009-1031. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2016.1252a

Chicago

Chernoff, Egan J., Ami Mamolo, and Rina Zazkis. "An Investigation of the Representativeness Heuristic: The Case of a Multiple Choice Exam". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2016 12 no. 4 (2016): 1009-1031. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2016.1252a

Harvard

Chernoff, E. J., Mamolo, A., and Zazkis, R. (2016). An Investigation of the Representativeness Heuristic: The Case of a Multiple Choice Exam. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 12(4), pp. 1009-1031. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2016.1252a

MLA

Chernoff, Egan J. et al. "An Investigation of the Representativeness Heuristic: The Case of a Multiple Choice Exam". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 12, no. 4, 2016, pp. 1009-1031. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2016.1252a