According to perceptual research, what tendency leads individuals to evaluate information based on first encounters?

The correct choice is based on the concept known as the primacy effect, which refers to the tendency of individuals to give more weight or importance to information presented at the beginning of a sequence, particularly during initial encounters with people or information. This cognitive bias influences how individuals form impressions and make judgments, often leading them to rely heavily on the first pieces of information they receive.

In a management context, understanding the primacy effect is crucial because it can impact decision-making, recruitment, and performance evaluations. If a manager remembers only the first impressions of an employee or a candidate, it may overshadow later evidence or performance, affecting overall assessments and potential opportunities.

Other concepts like projection, stereotyping, and closure represent different cognitive biases and interpretations. Projection involves attributing one's own thoughts or feelings onto others, which is a different cognitive process. Stereotyping pertains to oversimplified beliefs about a group of people that may lead to inaccurate conclusions. Closure refers to the mind's tendency to perceive incomplete information as whole, leading to assumptions that might not be accurate. While these are all relevant to perception and decision-making in organizations, they do not specifically describe the tendency to evaluate information based on initial encounters as effectively as the primacy effect does.