cognitive heuristic

n. 1. A mental strategy or rule of thumb for solving a problem that is relatively efficient in terms of processing time and usually finds a good solution but does not always find the best solution, as opposed to an algorithm, which involves an exhaustive search for solutions and guarantees the best outcome. 2. In industrial psychology it is a process of testing an idea or product by using independent testers following standard protocols but not actual use testing of the idea or product. 3. A working model of a problem used to test aspects of it while ignoring other aspects.

► See also AVAILABILITY HEURISTIC, REPRESENTATIVENESS HEURISTIC, and SIMULATION HEURISTIC