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Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the brain can only use...
Heuristics01:21

Heuristics

Heuristics are problem-solving strategies that use mental shortcuts to simplify decision-making. Unlike algorithms, which must be followed precisely to achieve a correct result, heuristics offer a general problem-solving framework. They save time and energy but can sometimes lead to less rational decisions.
People often rely on heuristics when faced with an overload of information, limited time, low importance of the decision, limited information, or when a heuristic readily comes to mind. For...
Decision Making01:20

Decision Making

Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
Decision Making: Traditional Method01:14

Decision Making: Traditional Method

The process of hypothesis testing based on the traditional method includes calculating the critical value, testing the value of the test statistic using the sample data, and interpreting these values.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
The Anchoring-and-Adjustment Heuristic01:25

The Anchoring-and-Adjustment Heuristic

In order to make good decisions, we use our knowledge and our reasoning. Often, this knowledge and reasoning is sound and solid. However, sometimes, we are swayed by biases or by others manipulating a situation. For example, let’s say you and three friends wanted to rent a house and had a combined target budget of $1,600. The realtor shows you only very run-down houses for $1,600 and then shows you a very nice house for $2,000. Might you ask each person to pay more in rent to get the $2,000...
Decision Making: P-value Method01:09

Decision Making: P-value Method

The process of hypothesis testing based on the P-value method includes calculating the P- value using the sample data and interpreting it.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim  is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses:  a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can have a...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

A Networked Desktop Virtual Reality Setup for Decision Science and Navigation Experiments with Multiple Participants
06:28

A Networked Desktop Virtual Reality Setup for Decision Science and Navigation Experiments with Multiple Participants

Published on: August 26, 2018

Getting around: making fast and frugal navigation decisions.

Juliet A Conlin1

  • 1Center for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany. conlin@mpib-berlin.mpg.de

Progress in Brain Research
|May 30, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Navigating complex environments relies on simple "fast and frugal heuristics" interacting with surroundings, not just internal maps. This "good enough" approach to spatial navigation is highly dependent on environmental context.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Environmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Ecology

Background:

  • Humans and animals navigate complex, dynamic environments with limited information.
  • Spatial navigation is a fundamental adaptive problem solved with remarkable speed and accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explain spatial navigation behavior through simple mechanisms and environmental interaction.
  • To challenge the view that complex navigation solely relies on internal representations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of navigation research emphasizing environment vs. internal representations.
  • Analysis of movement behavior through the lens of simple heuristics.
  • Exploiting task environment properties for movement decisions.

Main Results:

  • Spatial navigation decisions are often "good enough," not optimal.
  • Behavior is critically dependent on the specific environmental context.
  • Simple mechanisms (fast and frugal heuristics) explain complex navigation outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Focusing solely on cognitive processes without environmental context limits explanatory power.
  • Environmental structure is crucial for understanding spatial navigation.
  • Simple heuristics interacting with the environment effectively explain navigation strategies.