Task Switching as a Two-Stage Decision Process

2006 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 3146-3153 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Sinha ◽  
J.T.G. Brown ◽  
R.H.S. Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Simple Model ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Decision Process ◽  
Time Behavior ◽  
Complex Situation ◽  
Linear Approach ◽  
Plausible Model ◽  
In Series ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Saccades represent decisions, and the study of their latency has led to a neurally plausible model of the underlying mechanisms, LATER (Linear Approach to Threshold with Ergodic Rate), that can successfully predict reaction time behavior in simple decision tasks, with fixed instructions. However, if the instructions abruptly change, we have a more complex situation, known as task switching. Psychologists' explanations of the phenomena of task switching have so far tended to be qualitative rather than quantitative, and not intended to relate particularly clearly to existing models of decision making or to likely neural implementations. Here, we investigated task switching using a novel saccadic task: we presented the instructions by stimulus elements identical to those of the task itself, allowing us to compare decisions about instructions with decisions in the actual task. Our results support a relatively simple model consisting of two distinct LATER processes in series: the first detects the instruction, the second implements it.

scholarly journals To Stay or Not to Stay: The Stability-Flexibility Trade-Off in Value-Based Decision Making

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Senftleben ◽  
Martin Schoemann ◽  
Matthias Rudolf ◽  
Stefan Scherbaum
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Stimulus Onset Asynchrony ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Stimulus Onset ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Cognitive Stability ◽  
Attractor Model ◽  
Inter Trial Interval ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Onset Asynchrony

In order to successfully pursue a goal, humans need to maintain their behavior in the face of distractions. However, to avoid pursuing goals that became undesirable, humans also need to adjust their behavior flexibly to respective changes in the environment. The trade-off between these two forms of human functioning, cognitive stability and cognitive flexibility, is often investigated in cognitive psychology in task shielding and task switching paradigms. Here, we show that cognitive stability and flexibility also play a role in value-based decision making, as indicated by choice perseveration. We combine two experimental manipulations typical for task switching/shielding paradigms, i.e., varying the inter-trial interval and the stimulus onset asynchrony, and implement them in the context of value-based decision making in a binary choice paradigm. We predict how these manipulations will affect choice perseveration using a computational attractor model. We then test these predictions in a value-based decision game in two experiments using a sequential manipulation. Our results show that both the inter-trial interval and the stimulus onset asynchrony modulate choice perseveration as predicted by the model. We discuss how our findings extend research on cognitive stability and flexibility and their underlying mechanisms by adapting it to the domain of decision making.

An Exploration of Five Stages in Faculty Retirement Decision Making

2020 ◽  
pp. 193672442098298
Author(s):  
Beverlee B. Anderson ◽  
Jennifer Jeffries ◽  
Janet McDaniel
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Decision Process ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Substantial Portion ◽  
Retirement Decision ◽  
Faculty Retirement ◽  
Cognitive Decision

Humans make thousands of decisions each day. Most of the decisions we make are trivial or relatively unimportant in possible consequences. However, there are a few decisions we make in life that are lifechanging; one of those is the decision to retire from the professoriate. Voluntarily deciding to leave a profession where one has spent a substantial portion of one’s working life is one of life’s major decisions. This qualitative research looks at the various influences, actions, and feelings through the process of deciding to retire. Using a five-stage cognitive decision-process model as a framework, this paper reports on the reflections of 20 recent retirees over the five stages of the decision process from when first seriously considering the decision to postretirement activities and feelings. The results show that while all faculty progressed through the five stages, the timeframe, influences, feelings, and actions were unique to each individual.

Deterministic policies based on maximum regrets in MDPs with imprecise rewards

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Pegah Alizadeh ◽  
Emiliano Traversi ◽  
Aomar Osmani
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Process ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Sequential Decision Making ◽  
Sequential Decision ◽  
Exact Procedure ◽  
Markov Decision ◽  
Intuitive Idea ◽  
First Time ◽  
Maximum Regret

Markov Decision Process Models (MDPs) are a powerful tool for planning tasks and sequential decision-making issues. In this work we deal with MDPs with imprecise rewards, often used when dealing with situations where the data is uncertain. In this context, we provide algorithms for finding the policy that minimizes the maximum regret. To the best of our knowledge, all the regret-based methods proposed in the literature focus on providing an optimal stochastic policy. We introduce for the first time a method to calculate an optimal deterministic policy using optimization approaches. Deterministic policies are easily interpretable for users because for a given state they provide a unique choice. To better motivate the use of an exact procedure for finding a deterministic policy, we show some (theoretical and experimental) cases where the intuitive idea of using a deterministic policy obtained after “determinizing” the optimal stochastic policy leads to a policy far from the exact deterministic policy.

An Evacuation Decision Making Model for Firefighters in Ad Hoc Robot Network

2013 ◽  
Vol 756-759 ◽  
pp. 504-508
Author(s):  
De Min Li ◽  
Jian Zou ◽  
Kai Kai Yue ◽  
Hong Yun Guan ◽  
Jia Cun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Markov Decision Process ◽  
Decision Process ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Decision Method ◽  
Markov Decision ◽  
Critical Problems ◽  
Fire Scene ◽  
Decision Making Model

Evacuation for a firefighter in complex fire scene is challenge problem. In this paper, we discuss a firefighters evacuation decision making model in ad hoc robot network on fire scene. Due to the dynamics on fire scene, we know that the sensed information in ad hoc robot network is also dynamically variance. So in this paper, we adapt dynamic decision method, Markov decision process, to model the firefighters decision making process for evacuation from fire scene. In firefighting decision making process, we know that the critical problems are how to define action space and evaluate the transition law in Markov decision process. In this paper, we discuss those problems according to the triangular sensors situation in ad hoc robot network and describe a decision making model for a firefighters evacuation the in the end.

Impact of Information Technology on Information Search Channel Selection for Consumers

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav Khatwani ◽  
Praveen Ranjan Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Decision Process ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Fuzzy Ahp ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Information Channels ◽  
Search For Information

As information technology has evolved, digital media has become increasingly fragmented and has started to proliferate multiple information channels. In order to optimize on the various digital channels that are available, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of gaining solid insights into consumer behavior and preferences that can be translated into marketing strategies. Specifically, they are keen to identify which information channels they can use to effectively reach and communicate with their target market. In this regard, this paper describes how multi criteria decision making can be used to develop a new method of decision making that will enable an effective and systematic decision process of fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS. Further, these techniques can be used for the developing framework for identifying consumer preferences. This paper provides a demonstration of the underpinning working methodology of the proposed model by examining an real case that is based on the decision process Internet users employ during their online search for information.

scholarly journals An evidence accumulation model of perceptual discrimination with naturalistic stimuli

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hector Palada ◽  
Rachel A Searston ◽  
Annabel Persson ◽  
Timothy Ballard ◽  
Matthew B Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Decision Process ◽  
Dynamic Decision Making ◽  
Evidence Accumulation ◽  
Natural Stimuli ◽  
Perceptual Judgments ◽  
Linear Ballistic Accumulator ◽  
Decision Making Model ◽  
Speed Accuracy

Evidence accumulation models have been used to describe the cognitive processes underlying performance in tasks involving two-choice decisions about unidimensional stimuli, such as motion or orientation. Given the multidimensionality of natural stimuli, however, we might expect qualitatively different patterns of evidence accumulation in more applied perceptual tasks. One domain that relies heavily on human decisions about complex natural stimuli is fingerprint discrimination. We know little about the ability of evidence accumulation models to account for the dynamic decision process of a fingerprint examiner resolving if two different prints belong to the same finger or not. Here, we apply a dynamic decision-making model — the linear ballistic accumulator (LBA) — to fingerprint discrimination decisions in order to gain insight into the cognitive processes underlying these complex perceptual judgments. Across three experiments, we show that the LBA provides an accurate description of the fingerprint discrimination decision process with manipulations in visual noise, speed-accuracy emphasis, and training. Our results demonstrate that the LBA is a promising model for furthering our understanding of applied decision-making with naturally varying visual stimuli.

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