Statistics show that a basketball player with a "hot hand" who has made 5 shots in a row will be ________ likely to hit the next shot than if she had made 2 shots in a row.
A) more likely
B) just as likely
C) less likely

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "hot hand" phenomenon, where a player is perceived to have a higher chance of scoring subsequent shots after making several in a row, has been extensively studied. Research, including a study by Gilovich, Vallone, and Tversky in 1985, suggests that the belief in a "hot hand" in basketball is a cognitive illusion. Their analysis indicated that the probability of making a shot is not significantly affected by the outcomes of previous shots, meaning a player is just as likely to make a shot after hitting several in a row as they are after making fewer shots.

Statistics Show That a Basketball Player with a "Hot Hand