Sarah and Imani strike up a conversation while sitting next to each other on an airplane. Imani thinks Sarah is very intelligent and knowledgeable. When Sarah tells Imani that she works at an elementary school, Imani assumes that Sarah is a teacher, but Sarah is actually the secretary. Imani used which of the following to form her incorrect conclusion?

a. an algorithm

b. framing

c. the availability heuristic

d. the representativeness heuristic

D). The representativeness heuristic.

Explanation:

The 'representativeness heuristic' occurs when people form a conclusion regarding the probability of a specific outcome or event under confusion or uncertainty.

In the given example, Imani's judgment about Sarah that 'she is intelligent as well as knowledgeable and a teacher' demonstrate that Imani's categorical deductions about Sarah are based on 'representativeness' (reflected 'when Sarah strikes up the conversation' and when 'she tells that she works at an elementary school') and her past experiences. Thus, this implies that her decisions are based on uncertain conditions and previously set mental representations that guided her judgment.