heuristic

(noun)

Experience-based techniques for problem solving, learning, and discovery. An exhaustive search is impractical, so heuristic methods are used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution.

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(noun)

An experience-based technique for problem solving, learning, and discovery; examples include using a rule of thumb, an educated guess, an intuitive judgment, or common sense.

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(adjective)

Relating to general strategies or methods for solving problems.

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(noun)

A "shortcut" method of problem solving that makes assumptions based on past experiences. Examples include going by "rule of thumb," when you apply your experience of something having happened a certain way enough times that it's likely to continue happening that way. It is not guaranteed to be accurate every single time, but it cuts out processing time by avoiding detailed analysis of every particular situation.

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Examples of heuristic in the following topics:

  • Non-Rational Decision Making

    • He argues that simple heuristics—experience-based techniques for problem-solving—can lead to better decision outcomes than more thorough, theoretically optimal processes that consider vast amounts of information.
    • Where an exhaustive search is impractical, heuristic methods are used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution.

  • Cognitive Biases

    • They explained these differences in terms of heuristics, rules which are simple for the brain to compute but which introduce systematic errors.

  • Time Pressure as a Barrier to Decision Making

    • In many instances, the use of heuristics can be applied to complex decisions to serve as shortcuts in conducting analysis and weighing alternatives.

  • Methods of Excercising Influence

    • It is useful to view persuasion in two different lights, one being the systematic approach towards persuasion and the other is the more heuristic approach.
    • Heuristic persuasion appeals more towards emotions, habits, and other trial and error methods that are difficult to quantify.