Solve the dilemma by spinning a penny? On using random decision-making aids
When people find it difficult to make a decision, they may opt to let chance decide. Flipping a coin, rolling a die, or using a counting-out rhyme are well-known decision aids. When individuals directly follow the aid’s suggestion, the decision aid acts as a decider. But when the decision aid elicit...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2020-07-01
|
| Series: | Judgment and Decision Making |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S193029750000749X/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797695953052893184 |
|---|---|
| author | Mariela E. Jaffé Maria Douneva Rainer Greifeneder |
| author_facet | Mariela E. Jaffé Maria Douneva Rainer Greifeneder |
| author_sort | Mariela E. Jaffé |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | When people find it difficult to make a decision, they may opt to let chance decide. Flipping a coin, rolling a die, or using a counting-out rhyme are well-known decision aids. When individuals directly follow the aid’s suggestion, the decision aid acts as a decider. But when the decision aid elicits a felt response, such as liking or disliking the aid’s suggestion, and individuals act upon this response, the decision aid serves as a catalyst. This manuscript investigates whether and how many individuals apply these two strategies. In four studies (total N = 1135), we focus on coin flips as one of the most common decision aids and place an emphasis on the catalyst strategy. We examine (1) the frequency of previous experiences and future willingness to use a coin flip to make decisions, (2) which affective reactions accompany the coin flip when using it as catalyst, and (3) the circumstances under which individuals are more versus less likely to accept the use of a random decision-making aid to come to a decision. These results illustrate the catalyst phenomenon but also highlight the boundary conditions of individuals’ willingness to use randomness as an aid for decision making. We discuss directions for future research as well as potential applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:19:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06bbb7b600de441c88ee072b4dfe8f14 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1930-2975 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:19:44Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Judgment and Decision Making |
| spelling | doaj.art-06bbb7b600de441c88ee072b4dfe8f142023-09-03T14:02:50ZengCambridge University PressJudgment and Decision Making1930-29752020-07-011556157110.1017/S193029750000749XSolve the dilemma by spinning a penny? On using random decision-making aidsMariela E. Jaffé0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9612-5008Maria Douneva1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9067-8752Rainer Greifeneder2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0725-5626Center for Social Psychology, University of Basel, SwitzerlandCenter for Social Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandCenter for Social Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandWhen people find it difficult to make a decision, they may opt to let chance decide. Flipping a coin, rolling a die, or using a counting-out rhyme are well-known decision aids. When individuals directly follow the aid’s suggestion, the decision aid acts as a decider. But when the decision aid elicits a felt response, such as liking or disliking the aid’s suggestion, and individuals act upon this response, the decision aid serves as a catalyst. This manuscript investigates whether and how many individuals apply these two strategies. In four studies (total N = 1135), we focus on coin flips as one of the most common decision aids and place an emphasis on the catalyst strategy. We examine (1) the frequency of previous experiences and future willingness to use a coin flip to make decisions, (2) which affective reactions accompany the coin flip when using it as catalyst, and (3) the circumstances under which individuals are more versus less likely to accept the use of a random decision-making aid to come to a decision. These results illustrate the catalyst phenomenon but also highlight the boundary conditions of individuals’ willingness to use randomness as an aid for decision making. We discuss directions for future research as well as potential applications.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S193029750000749X/type/journal_articlesimple decision strategiesdecision aidscoin flips |
| spellingShingle | Mariela E. Jaffé Maria Douneva Rainer Greifeneder Solve the dilemma by spinning a penny? On using random decision-making aids Judgment and Decision Making simple decision strategies decision aids coin flips |
| title | Solve the dilemma by spinning a penny? On using random decision-making aids |
| title_full | Solve the dilemma by spinning a penny? On using random decision-making aids |
| title_fullStr | Solve the dilemma by spinning a penny? On using random decision-making aids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solve the dilemma by spinning a penny? On using random decision-making aids |
| title_short | Solve the dilemma by spinning a penny? On using random decision-making aids |
| title_sort | solve the dilemma by spinning a penny on using random decision making aids |
| topic | simple decision strategies decision aids coin flips |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S193029750000749X/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marielaejaffe solvethedilemmabyspinningapennyonusingrandomdecisionmakingaids AT mariadouneva solvethedilemmabyspinningapennyonusingrandomdecisionmakingaids AT rainergreifeneder solvethedilemmabyspinningapennyonusingrandomdecisionmakingaids |