scholarly journals Influence of memory processes on choice consistency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Jan Nitsch ◽  
Tobias Kalenscher
Keyword(s):  
Memory Retrieval ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Memory Representation ◽  
Floor Effect ◽  
Manipulation Check ◽  
Memory Processes ◽  
Random Behavior ◽  
Choice Consistency ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

Choice-consistency is considered a hallmark of rational value-based choice. However, because the cognitive apparatus supporting decision-making is imperfect, real decision-makers often show some degree of choice inconsistency. Cognitive models are necessary to complement idealized choice axioms with attention, perception and memory processes. Specifically, compelling theoretical work suggests that the (imperfect) retention of choice-relevant memories might be important for choice-consistency, but this hypothesis has not been tested directly. We used a novel multi-attribute visual choice (MAVC) paradigm to experimentally test the influence of memory retrieval of exemplars on choice-consistency. Our manipulation check confirmed that our retention interval manipulation successfully reduced memory representation strength. Given this, we found strong evidence against our hypothesis that choice-consistency decreases with increasing retention time. However, quality controls indicated that the choice-consistency of our participants was non-discernable from random behavior. In addition, an exploratory analysis showed essentially no test-retest reliability of choice-consistency between two observations. Taken together, this suggests the presence of a floor effect in our data and, thus, low data quality for conclusively evaluating our hypotheses. Further exploration tentatively suggested a high difficulty of discriminating between the choice objects driving this floor effect.

scholarly journals Influence of memory processes on choice-consistency

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix J. Nitsch ◽  
Tobias Kalenscher
Keyword(s):  
Memory Retrieval ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Memory Representation ◽  
Floor Effect ◽  
Manipulation Check ◽  
Memory Processes ◽  
Choice Consistency ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
Random Behaviour

Choice-consistency is considered a hallmark of rational value-based choice. However, because the cognitive apparatus supporting decision-making is imperfect, real decision-makers often show some degree of choice inconsistency. Cognitive models are necessary to complement idealized choice axioms with attention, perception and memory processes. Specifically, compelling theoretical work suggests that the (imperfect) retention of choice-relevant memories might be important for choice-consistency, but this hypothesis has not been tested directly. We used a novel multi-attribute visual choice paradigm to experimentally test the influence of memory retrieval of exemplars on choice-consistency. Our manipulation check confirmed that our retention interval manipulation successfully reduced memory representation strength. Given this, we found strong evidence against our hypothesis that choice-consistency decreases with increasing retention time. However, quality controls indicated that the choice-consistency of our participants was non-discernable from random behaviour. In addition, an exploratory analysis showed essentially no test–retest reliability of choice-consistency between two observations. Taken together, this suggests the presence of a floor effect in our data and, thus, low data quality for conclusively evaluating our hypotheses. Further exploration tentatively suggested a high difficulty of discriminating between the choice objects driving this floor effect.

scholarly journals Keeping a cool head at all times. What determines choice consistency?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Jan Nitsch ◽  
Tobias Kalenscher
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Work ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Expected Returns ◽  
Current State ◽  
Subjective Value ◽  
Choice Consistency ◽  
Blood Alcohol Levels ◽  
Rational Choice Theories ◽  
Trait Factors

Many rational choice theories posit that rational decision makers assign subjective values to all available choice options and choose the option with highest subjective value. Choice options are usually composed of multiple attributes, e.g. healthiness and taste in dietary choice or risk and expected returns in financial choice. These attributes have to be integrated into a single subjective value. Subjective value maximizing choice requires choice consistency, i.e. consistent weighing of the choice attributes across choices. However, empirical work suggests that perfect choice consistency is often violated, for example when decision makers weigh choice attributes differently across multiple decisions. Some researchers propose to extend certain bounds of rationality or to abandon the concept of rationality as adherence to consistency principles altogether. A more conservative stance assumes that perfect consistency can be violated by decision makers in practice, but that consistency principles still can explain large parts of behavior. In a review of the recent literature, we identify factors for compromised consistency relative to baseline conditions. Broadly, we distinguish between undynamic trait factors and fluid state factors. We find evidence for an influence of age, education, intelligence, and neurological status. In contrast, choice consistency appears to be relatively robust to the influence of sex, personality traits, cognitive load, sleepiness and blood alcohol levels. We conclude, that, according to the current state of the literature, only fundamental differences in decision makers, that is, trait differences, have a significant impact on choice consistency.

Structure of the recall process

1983 ◽  
Vol 302 (1110) ◽  
pp. 373-385 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Memory Representation ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Individual Item ◽  
Memory Processes ◽  
Retrieval Cues ◽  
Major Index ◽  
The Individual

It is often appropriate to analyse memory processes at a binary level corresponding to the individual item, which may be either remembered or not. But an alternative, considered here, is to study memory for material that is explicitly multicomponent in nature. This procedure is necessary in attempting to resolve some basic issues concerning memory representation. For example, the use as retrieval cues of differing combinations of components produces differing patterns of recall, in differing quantities. How may these distributions be accounted for? Similarly, what are the effects upon memory of varying the attention paid to different components, or combinations of components? In dealing with such questions, it is useful to distinguish direct and indirect retrieval routes. This distinction can be shown to be of particular service in elucidating the relation that recall bears to the other major index of memory retention, recognition.

scholarly journals Comprehending anaphoric presuppositions involves memory retrieval too

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry Yong Chen ◽  
E. Matthew Husband
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Diffusion Model ◽  
Memory Retrieval ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Memory Representation ◽  
Drift Diffusion Model ◽  
Drift Diffusion ◽  
Retrieval Processes ◽  
Retrieval Mechanism ◽  
Presupposition Triggers

We investigate the memory retrieval mechanism that underlies the real-time comprehension of anaphoric presupposition triggers. Using the Drift Diffusion Model, we offer a new experimental argument for the anaphoric view of presuppositions with evidence from the memory retrieval processes associated with the trigger too. We show that the memory representation of the antecedent content that satisfies the presupposition is retrieved via a direct access mechanism, suggesting that anaphoric triggers such as too share the same processing signature of many anaphoric expressions, such as pronouns and VP ellipses.

scholarly journals Inconsistently consistent: Rationality is not reliable

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Jan Nitsch ◽  
Luca Marie Lüpken ◽  
Nils Lüschow ◽  
Tobias Kalenscher
Keyword(s):  
Revealed Preference ◽  
Efficiency Index ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Basic Requirement ◽  
Domain Generality ◽  
Choice Consistency ◽  
Psychometric Measures ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
Future Work ◽  
The Impact

Contemporarily, experimental investigations of revealed preference choice consistency utilize different tasks interchangeably. However, the reliability of choice consistency measurements among (inter-method) and within tasks (test-retest) has not been determined so far. Hence, it is unclear whether estimations of choice consistency fulfill a basic requirement of valid psychometric measures. Further, it is unclear how far results from different studies using different methodologies are comparable. In the study described here, we investigated the reliability of two established and one novel choice consistency tasks in an online-experiment under non-incentivized conditions in the choice domain of social decisions. Our results confidently indicate generally poor inter-method reliability and at best moderate test-retest reliability for the two indices, the Critical Cost Efficiency Index (CCEI) and the Houtman-Maks-Index (HMI), with the CCEI being the tentatively more reliable measure. This is especially concerning, since the full experiment (including test and retest measurement) lasted on average less than 45 minutes. Hence, it appears that estimations of choice consistency do not fulfill a basic requirement of valid psychometric measures. Further, results from different studies using different methodologies should not be compared without caution. Future work should investigate the impact of incentivization as well as the choice domain generality of our results.

scholarly journals Enfeeblement in Essential Tremor: Development and Validation of a New Psychometric Measure

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Trujillo Diaz ◽  
Tess E. K. Cersonsky ◽  
Sarah Kellner ◽  
Maria Anna Zdrodowska ◽  
Ruby Hickman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Tremor ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Floor Effect ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
Development And Validation

Introduction: Despite a growing body of knowledge regarding essential tremor (ET), past studies have fallen short in capturing the full impact of ET on patients and caregivers. We propose enfeeblement (i.e., having the qualities of being prematurely old, helpless, or debilitated) as a novel clinical outcome measure in ET. Due to the lack of enfeeblement scales for ET in the literature, we developed and validated an enfeeblement scale for ET. Methods: The Essential Tremor Enfeeblement Survey (ETES) consists of eight 5-point Likert-type scale questions and is designed to be a caregiver-reported outcome. Results: Enfeeblement scores showed a floor effect of 15.3%, no ceiling effects, and demonstrated good overall test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.73), favorable internal consistency (Cronbach α coefficient = 0.92) and good convergent validity. Conclusion: The ETES has robust properties. Aside from future studies of enfeeblement in ET, enfeeblement should be explored more broadly as a psychometric measure across other neurological disorders.

scholarly journals Associations between Basal Cortisol Levels and Memory Retrieval in Healthy Young Individuals

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 1896-1907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Ackermann ◽  
Francina Hartmann ◽  
Andreas Papassotiropoulos ◽  
Dominique J.-F. de Quervain ◽  
Björn Rasch
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Memory Retrieval ◽  
Recall Performance ◽  
Emotional Valence ◽  
Recall Condition ◽  
Short Delay ◽  
Memory Processes ◽  
Basal Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Episodic Memories

Cortisol is known to affect memory processes. On the one hand, stress-induced or pharmacologically induced elevations of cortisol levels enhance memory consolidation. On the other hand, such experimentally induced elevations of cortisol levels have been shown to impair memory retrieval. However, the effects of individual differences in basal cortisol levels on memory processes remain largely unknown. Here we tested whether individual differences in cortisol levels predict picture learning and recall in a large sample. A total of 1225 healthy young women and men viewed two different sets of emotional and neutral pictures on two consecutive days. Both sets were recalled after a short delay (10 min). On Day 2, the pictures seen on Day 1 were additionally recalled, resulting in a long-delay (20 hr) recall condition. Cortisol levels were measured three times on Days 1 and 2 via saliva samples before encoding, between encoding and recall as well as after recall testing. We show that stronger decreases in cortisol levels during retrieval testing were associated with better recall performance of pictures, regardless of emotional valence of the pictures or length of the retention interval (i.e., 10 min vs. 20 hr). In contrast, average cortisol levels during retrieval were not related to picture recall. Remarkably during encoding, individual differences in average cortisol levels as well as changes in cortisol did not predict memory recall. Our results support previous findings indicating that higher cortisol levels during retrieval testing hinders recall of episodic memories and extend this view onto interindividual changes in basal cortisol levels.

THE COMPASS INDEX OF SUSTAINABILITY: PROTOTYPE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION SYSTEM

2001 ◽  
Vol 03 (04) ◽  
pp. 509-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALAN ATKISSON ◽  
R. LEE HATCHER
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
The Impact

Comprehensive indicators of sustainability need to be accessible, useful, and attractive to decision makers and the general public. To this end, we introduce a new aggregation, scaling, and presentation methodology. Called the "The Compass Index of Sustainability", it clusters indicators and assessment scores into four quadrants, based on the metaphor of the compass: N = Nature, E = Economy, S = Society, W = Well-being. The clusters are adapted from the theoretical work of Herman Daly ("Daly's Pyramid") as modified by Donella H. Meadows. In application, the Compass turns a complex indicator set into a series of four performance indices, one for each Compass Point, on a 0–100 scale. Normative decisions based on both scientific and social values determine the conversion formula for each indicator. The four indices can be superaggregated to produce an "Overall Sustainability Index". Once established, the scales provide clear signals about sustainability performance over time compared to an absolute or "ideal" target end-state, rather than the performance of other actors. First applied and publicly released in Orlando, Florida, USA, in July 2000, the compass proved a powerful media communications vehicle in that context, resulting in extensive regional news coverage; and it made a significant strategic impact on regional decision makers, specifically in philanthropy. Versions of the methodology are now being applied in several other US regions, cities, and communities, and other applications are being developed to assess and aggregate corporate sustainability performance as well. The authors believe the Compass Index can also be used as an interface or "add-on" to other indicator systems, such as the emerging Global Reporting Initiative; and as a management tool for comparing performance among variables, identifying priorities, and setting clear improvement targets. This paper describes the theoretical foundations of the Compass Index; the implementation of the first prototype in Orlando, Florida; and the impact of that report on local media and decision makers. It also provides a discussion on problems and challenges associated with the model. Note: The Compass Index of Sustainability, in format and methodology, is the intellectual property of AtKisson, Inc. All rights are reserved. Academic research is encouraged, but commercial use is restricted. Please contact the firm for licensing information.

scholarly journals Transient Value Refinements during Deliberation Facilitate Choice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Lee ◽  
Keith Holyoak
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Choice Process ◽  
Choice Consistency ◽  
Spreading Of Alternatives ◽  
Instrumental Role ◽  
Positive Evaluation ◽  
Dissonance Reduction

After deciding among options, decision makers exhibit an increased positive evaluation of the chosen option coupled with a decreased evaluation for those rejected, resulting in a spreading of alternatives (SoA). There has been a longstanding debate as whether SoA results from post-choice dissonance reduction, or whether it plays an instrumental role in reaching a decision. Here we introduce a novel procedure that measures SoA implicitly during the process of choice. Participants provided simultaneous value ratings for the options on offer on each trial before finalizing their choice. The results clearly demonstrate that SoA occurs before choices are finalized. Furthermore, SoA is instrumental to the choice process: it enhances choice consistency and confidence and reduces response time. The SoA generated during choice is transient in nature, partially regressing toward baseline shortly afterwards.

Endowment vs. Previous Preferences: Which Cue Drives Consumer Decision-Making?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Katharina Spälti ◽  
Mark John Brandt ◽  
Marcel Zeelenberg
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Brand Loyalty ◽  
Memory Retrieval ◽  
Endowment Effect ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Consumer Decision Making ◽  
Consumer Decision ◽  
Alternative Option ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
The Relationship

Research on the endowment effect has shown that simply endowing people with a good can increase the salience of the good and make it more likely to be chosen over alternatives. Other lines of research suggest that previous preferences are hard to override and may be chronically accessible to decision makers. We investigate the relationship between previous preferences (i.e. brand loyalty and purchasing habits) and the endowment effect in a switching paradigm and measure participants’ memory retrieval orders to assess the salience of choice options. In Experiment 1 (N = 202), participants interacted with a smartphone of a brand either in line with or contradicting their brand loyalty. We find that participants high in brand loyalty are most likely to be influenced by the experimental condition than those low in brand loyalty. In Experiment 2 (N = 486), we endowed participants with a can of Coke or Lipton and measured their purchasing habits of these products. We find main effects of both endowment and purchasing habits. In both experiments, the salience of cues was affected by both previous preferences as well as endowment. We show that the endowment effect is not completely immune to previous preferences: It can be weakened for people with (strong) previous preferences in favor of an alternative option or boosted for people with (high) previous preferences in favor of the endowed option.

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