<p>Schema and Heuristic are two different things- not really related to one another, so I'm not sure asking for the difference between the two makes sense. That said-</p>

<p>A <strong>Schema</strong> is a cognitive framework for storing information and relating it together. Schemas form the basis for knowledge in the head.</p>

<p>A <strong>Heuristic</strong> is a mechanism for solving problems.</p>

<p>Therefore, a schema is more associated with <em>what</em> topics a person might make decisions upon, whereas a heuristic is more associated with <em>how</em> a person makes those decisions. Heuristic methods very well may depend upon existing schema; however, schema do not necessarily require the existence of a heuristic method.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-02T23:10:48.513Z
Agree- the idea is that schema and heuristics really aren't related. Asking for the difference between the two doesn't really make sense.
theMayer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-03T01:41:40.757Z
I can see a little room for confusion. A heuristic may be based on a schema. E.g., my girlfriend asks me to move her car, but doesn't tell me where the keys are, so I refer to my schema for where keys often are (tabletops, baskets, or pegs on the wall near the door), and search there first (a heuristic approach, no?)...but I still don't see how reading the Wiki pages wouldn't clear up the confusion in about two minutes :S
Nick Stauner
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2014-03-02T15:38:08.137Z
2014-03-02T23:11:30.593Z
2014-03-02T23:11:30.593Z
theMayer
<p>I am trying to understand the basic differences, in layman's terms, between a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schema_%28psychology%29" rel="nofollow">schema</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heuristic" rel="nofollow">heuristic</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-02T06:21:53.487Z
Welcome to cogsci.SE. I see you're familiar with the Wikipedia pages for each term, or at least aware of their existence. Could you be more specific about what part of your question those don't answer for you?
Nick Stauner
<cognitive-psychology><terminology><cognitive-modeling>
What is the difference between a schema and a heuristic?
user4509
# What is the difference between a schema and a heuristic?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-02)

I am trying to understand the basic differences, in layman's terms, between a [schema](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schema_%28psychology%29) and a [heuristic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heuristic)

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, terminology, cognitive-modeling

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to cogsci.SE. I see you're familiar with the Wikipedia pages for each term, or at least aware of their existence. Could you be more specific about what part of your question those don't answer for you?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-03-02. Score: 3

Schema and Heuristic are two different things- not really related to one another, so I'm not sure asking for the difference between the two makes sense. That said-

A **Schema** is a cognitive framework for storing information and relating it together. Schemas form the basis for knowledge in the head.

A **Heuristic** is a mechanism for solving problems.

Therefore, a schema is more associated with *what* topics a person might make decisions upon, whereas a heuristic is more associated with *how* a person makes those decisions. Heuristic methods very well may depend upon existing schema; however, schema do not necessarily require the existence of a heuristic method.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Agree- the idea is that schema and heuristics really aren't related. Asking for the difference between the two doesn't really make sense.  
> **username_1**: I can see a little room for confusion. A heuristic may be based on a schema. E.g., my girlfriend asks me to move her car, but doesn't tell me where the keys are, so I refer to my schema for where keys often are (tabletops, baskets, or pegs on the wall near the door), and search there first (a heuristic approach, no?)...but I still don't see how reading the Wiki pages wouldn't clear up the confusion in about two minutes :S  

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