When asked to indicate whether san diego or san antonio has more inhabitants, more german university students answered correctly than did american university students. this best illustrated the adaptive value of a(n):
a) algorithm.
b) mental set.
c) heuristic.
d) category hierarchy.
e) fixation.

c) heuristic.  

Explanation:

When asked to indicate whether San Diego or San Antonio has more inhabitants, more German university students answered correctly than did American university students. This best illustrated the adaptive value of a heuristic.

Heuristic is any method of learning or self discovery that is applied in achieving immediate or short-term goal. Heuristics can be mental shortcuts that ease the cognitive load of making a decision.

The German students were able to apply heuristic learning approach getting the right answer.

answer; revisionist;