Volume 7, Issue 1 (Spring 2005)
Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2005, 7(1): 39-48 |
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Abstract: (2487 Views)
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of adherence to useless and noninstrumental information on preference and decision-making in different domains.
Method: In this interventional psychological research, 800 participants read scenarios in four experiments. In these scenarios they were asked to make decisions about different issues including kidney donation. Half of the participants were provided with simple scenarios and the other half were provided with ambiguous ones. Simple scenarios were related to decision-making tasks that contained "useless and noninstrumental information" about the issue to be decided. Ambiguous scenarios were related to decision-making tasks that did not contain useless and noninstrumental information in the beginning, but that information would be provided for them after a specific interval.
Results: All four experiments resulted in the same strong and reliable finding: receiving useless information after some delay and waiting, appears to be useful and relevant; therefore, the possibility of using them in the final decision-making increases.
Conclusion: People lack defined preferences, and composes them in the course of decision-making.
Method: In this interventional psychological research, 800 participants read scenarios in four experiments. In these scenarios they were asked to make decisions about different issues including kidney donation. Half of the participants were provided with simple scenarios and the other half were provided with ambiguous ones. Simple scenarios were related to decision-making tasks that contained "useless and noninstrumental information" about the issue to be decided. Ambiguous scenarios were related to decision-making tasks that did not contain useless and noninstrumental information in the beginning, but that information would be provided for them after a specific interval.
Results: All four experiments resulted in the same strong and reliable finding: receiving useless information after some delay and waiting, appears to be useful and relevant; therefore, the possibility of using them in the final decision-making increases.
Conclusion: People lack defined preferences, and composes them in the course of decision-making.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2004/10/31 | Accepted: 2005/01/12 | Published: 2005/03/21
Received: 2004/10/31 | Accepted: 2005/01/12 | Published: 2005/03/21
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