Which bias is described by relying on the first information encountered to guide judgments?

• A. Anchoring bias
• B. Availability bias
• C. Confirmation bias
• D. Hindsight bias

Answer: (A)

Anchoring bias occurs when the first piece of information you encounter acts as a reference point and heavily shapes all later judgments. The mind tends to cling to that initial value and make only small adjustments as new data come in, so estimates or decisions end up pulled toward the starting point. In valuation work, an initial listing price or first comparable can effectively set the tone for subsequent appraisals, causing numbers to cluster around that anchor even if market data later suggest a different value. This differs from other biases: availability bias relies on information that's most easily recalled; confirmation bias involves seeking or interpreting information to confirm preconceptions; and hindsight bias makes past events seem more predictable after they’ve occurred. The defining idea here is the initial piece of information disproportionately steering subsequent judgments.