A common heuristic in evaluating persuasive messages is:

• A. A trusted source or reputation
• B. Thorough statistical analysis
• C. Following a rule of thumb
• D. Reading all sources

Answer: (C)

Judgments about persuasive messages are often guided by heuristics—quick mental shortcuts that let us decide what to believe without doing a full, detailed analysis. A rule of thumb is a prime example of this kind of shortcut: a simple, practical guideline we apply automatically to judge credibility or relevance. In persuasive contexts, people rely on these easy checks instead of spending time on thorough methods like calculating statistics or weighing every source. That’s why following a rule of thumb best captures how we typically evaluate messages: it embodies the idea of making quick, heuristic-based judgments rather than rigorous, data-heavy analysis. The other options describe more effortful or specific evaluation practices, which, while possible, aren’t as representative of the common, automatic way people assess persuasion.