The ___ occurs when decisions are influenced by inappropriate allegiance to a previously existing value or starting point.

A) confirmation error
B) lack-of-participation error
C) representativeness bias
D) anchoring and adjustment bias
E) availability bias

Anchoring and Adjustment Bias

A cognitive bias where an initial piece of information (anchor) significantly influences subsequent judgments or decisions.

Confirmation Error

A cognitive bias involving the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

Representativeness Bias

A cognitive bias where individuals make judgments about the probability of an event based on how much it resembles their existing stereotypes.