Comments on: The Librarian Guide to Cognitive Bias: Anchoring http://bruceharpham.ca/2010/01/the-librarian-guide-to-cognitive-bias-anchoring/ Examining libraries, records management and emerging media trends Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:14:08 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Carolyn http://bruceharpham.ca/2010/01/the-librarian-guide-to-cognitive-bias-anchoring/comment-page-1/#comment-801 Carolyn Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:24:55 +0000 http://bruceharpham.ca/?p=665#comment-801 I had to laugh when I read your example of coffee shops not placing small sized cups on the menu. As an undergraduate, I once considered a summer job at Second Cup. During the training video, the lady doing demonstrations points to four sizes of cup, stating, "We have four sizes: extra large, large, medium and small but small is too small. Do not offer the customers a small cup." And with that she picked up the small syrofoam cup and crushed it in her hand. I didn't end up taking the job so I missed out on a summer of directing people towards larger drinks! I had to laugh when I read your example of coffee shops not placing small sized cups on the menu. As an undergraduate, I once considered a summer job at Second Cup. During the training video, the lady doing demonstrations points to four sizes of cup, stating, “We have four sizes: extra large, large, medium and small but small is too small. Do not offer the customers a small cup.” And with that she picked up the small syrofoam cup and crushed it in her hand. I didn’t end up taking the job so I missed out on a summer of directing people towards larger drinks!

]]> By: David St Bernard http://bruceharpham.ca/2010/01/the-librarian-guide-to-cognitive-bias-anchoring/comment-page-1/#comment-797 David St Bernard Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:00:23 +0000 http://bruceharpham.ca/?p=665#comment-797 Happy to comment. I haven't read 'Nudge', but I do pride myself in being an excellent database architect. :) Happy to comment.

I haven’t read ‘Nudge’, but I do pride myself in being an excellent database architect. :)

]]> By: Bruce http://bruceharpham.ca/2010/01/the-librarian-guide-to-cognitive-bias-anchoring/comment-page-1/#comment-794 Bruce Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:42:30 +0000 http://bruceharpham.ca/?p=665#comment-794 Limiting options can be good, I agree. Your comment reminds me of a recent book on this topic called, "Nudge," that looked at how 'choice architecture' can be designed to nudge people away from bad choices and toward good choices. The vital part lies in choosing an anchor and reevaluating it periodically. The kind of experimentation you describe makes me think you have this well in hand though. Thanks for commenting. Limiting options can be good, I agree. Your comment reminds me of a recent book on this topic called, “Nudge,” that looked at how ‘choice architecture’ can be designed to nudge people away from bad choices and toward good choices.

The vital part lies in choosing an anchor and reevaluating it periodically. The kind of experimentation you describe makes me think you have this well in hand though.

Thanks for commenting.

]]> By: David St Bernard http://bruceharpham.ca/2010/01/the-librarian-guide-to-cognitive-bias-anchoring/comment-page-1/#comment-784 David St Bernard Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:26:11 +0000 http://bruceharpham.ca/?p=665#comment-784 I love a challenge. :) I'll try the devil's advocate approach, and state that anchoring may be the single most important cognitive bias for the 21st century. Anchoring saves time. Eating vegan is wonderful, because it reduces my options when deciding what to eat at a restaurant. Having a set path to work, when none are significantly better, saves me time. Anchoring oneself to an idea avoids reevaluating our options. There's something quite wonderful about not having to stress over "where will I be sleeping tonight?" Taking something for granted can a blessing. It's simply important to note that people can be either stubborn or stuck with their anchors. When is it time to leave a job, a home, a country, a friend, a spouse, a belief? The answer is simply to try to give it a yank! Sometimes, the ground is loose and the anchor will pop right out. Sometimes, you didn't drop your anchor whole heartedly, and it never really got stuck. Sometimes, the placement of your anchor is intricately affected by all of the other anchors piled up in the same patch of ground. You might be on top of an anchor, or buried beneath another. In all cases, you'll disturb the ground and neighboring anchors. How much depends on how hard you pull. How's that? :) I love a challenge. :) I’ll try the devil’s advocate approach, and state that anchoring may be the single most important cognitive bias for the 21st century.

Anchoring saves time. Eating vegan is wonderful, because it reduces my options when deciding what to eat at a restaurant. Having a set path to work, when none are significantly better, saves me time.

Anchoring oneself to an idea avoids reevaluating our options. There’s something quite wonderful about not having to stress over “where will I be sleeping tonight?” Taking something for granted can a blessing.

It’s simply important to note that people can be either stubborn or stuck with their anchors. When is it time to leave a job, a home, a country, a friend, a spouse, a belief? The answer is simply to try to give it a yank! Sometimes, the ground is loose and the anchor will pop right out. Sometimes, you didn’t drop your anchor whole heartedly, and it never really got stuck. Sometimes, the placement of your anchor is intricately affected by all of the other anchors piled up in the same patch of ground. You might be on top of an anchor, or buried beneath another. In all cases, you’ll disturb the ground and neighboring anchors. How much depends on how hard you pull.

How’s that? :)

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