heuristics
Problem-solving rules-of-thumb
Heuristics are practical problem-solving strategies that trade precision for speed.
Where a rigorous method guarantees the right answer eventually, a heuristic finds a good-enough answer quickly: Hiring managers use heuristics like years of experience to filter résumés.
In computing, heuristic algorithms tackle problems too complex for exact solutions.
In psychology, heuristics are mental shortcuts—useful but prone to systematic biases.
The singular heuristic works as both noun and adjective: a heuristic approach.
Practical approximate principle
- trial-and-errorSolving by successive approximation
- approximationNear but inexact value
- shortcutQuicker alternative path
- simplificationMaking something less complex
back-of-the-envelope · guesstimate · satisficing · analogy · inference · extrapolation · common-sense · pragmatic
Fastening securely to position
- availabilityState of being obtainable
- representativenessQuality of being typical
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
Excessively wanting more
- geneticRelating to heredity
- evolutionaryPertaining to gradual biological change
- backtrackingReversing to find alternatives
- stochasticRandomly determined, statistically describable
Temporary exterior work platform
- schemaOrganized representational structure
- chunkingDividing into manageable parts
- mnemonicTechnique for retention
- elaborationDevelopment through detail
Ease of interaction quality
- NielsenTV ratings firm
- affordancePerceived usability property
- visibilityRange of clear sight
- feedbackReturned response data
learnability · interface · accessibility · consistency · flexibility · minimalism · discoverability · signifier
rule-of-thumb
Practical approximate principle
- trial-and-errorSolving by successive approximation
- approximationNear but inexact value
- shortcutQuicker alternative path
simplification · back-of-the-envelope · guesstimate · satisficing · analogy · inference · extrapolation · common-sense · pragmatic · decomposition
anchoring
Fastening securely to position
- availabilityState of being obtainable
- representativenessQuality of being typical
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
overconfidence · hindsight · groupthink · illusion · misjudgment
greedy
Excessively wanting more
- geneticRelating to heredity
- evolutionaryPertaining to gradual biological change
- backtrackingReversing to find alternatives
scaffolding
Temporary exterior work platform
usability
Ease of interaction quality
- NielsenTV ratings firm
- affordancePerceived usability property
- visibilityRange of clear sight
feedback · learnability · interface · accessibility · consistency · flexibility · minimalism · discoverability · signifier
- mental modelsanchoring, confirmation bias, hindsight bias, Occam's razor, first principles
- problem-solvingproblem solving, puzzles, riddles, logic, solutions
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, cognition, remembering
- psychologypsychology, psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, clinical psychology
- thinking skillslogic, logical thinking, logical reasoning, reasoning, reason
- behavioral economicsloss aversion, nudge, anchoring, cognitive bias, mental accounting
heuristicsfirst principles
Basic truths underlying reasoning
deductive logic · axioms · empirical verification · scientific method · logical proof