Keith recently read an article online that made him question his ability to make decisions. Explain the positives and the negatives of each of these concepts related to thinking and problem-solving:

• Algorithm:
• Heuristics
• Confirmation bias
• Fixation
• Overconfidence
• Creativity

An algorithm is a step by step procedure that leads you to a correct answer. Even though this concept leads you to a correct answer it leads you to a correct answer, it might have its negative procedures or results, but also positive. The positives of using algorithms is that no matter how much it takes you’ll end with the right answer. The negatives is that the procedure might be too long.

Heuristic is a mental shortcut that allows people to solve problems and make judgments quickly and efficiently. Even though it might have positive characteristics it has its negatives as well. The positive characteristics of using heuristics is that you get your answer fast. The negatives are that you don’t get a right answer all the time, because you didn’t follow a procedure then you don’t get exactly what you are supposed to.

Confirmation bias is a tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions, leading to statistical errors. Confirmation bias has its pros and cons. Its cos are your own mind can lead you to a misunderstanding or a complete error, for example, you are trying to reach to an old friend and you text him and call him and he doesn’t answer you immediately think that person is avoiding you but you never know if that person is not using another phone number or is not available. Confirmation bias positive effects are that leads you to an answer, especially an answer for your convenience.

Fixation is a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. A state of mind involving obsession with a particular person, idea, or thing. This concept, as the others, has positive and negative procedures or effects. The positives are that it might seem that things work in your favor and that is the only way. The negative part of it is that you don’t see things in other ways you don’t see the other part of the page.

Overconfidence refers to the phenomenon that people's confidence in their judgments and knowledge is higher than the accuracy of these judgments. As most of things it has its negatives and its positives. Its negative are that you always think that you are right even when you might be wrong. Its positives are that you feel satisfied with your answer because you think you’re right.

Creativity is a mental and social process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations of the creative mind between existing ideas or concepts. Its positive is that you let your imagination decide for you. Its negative is that some things are not real.