Intuitive numbers guide decisions
Measuring reaction times to number comparisons is thought to reveal a processing stage in elementary numerical cognition linked to internal, imprecise representations of number magnitudes. These intuitive representations of the mental number line have been demonstrated across species and human devel...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2008-12-01
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| Series: | Judgment and Decision Making |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1930297500001571/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797702542690353152 |
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| author | Ellen Peters Paul Slovic Daniel Västfjäll C. K. Mertz |
| author_facet | Ellen Peters Paul Slovic Daniel Västfjäll C. K. Mertz |
| author_sort | Ellen Peters |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Measuring reaction times to number comparisons is thought to reveal a processing stage in elementary numerical cognition linked to internal, imprecise representations of number magnitudes. These intuitive representations of the mental number line have been demonstrated across species and human development but have been little explored in decision making. This paper develops and tests hypotheses about the influence of such evolutionarily ancient, intuitive numbers on human decisions. We demonstrate that individuals with more precise mental-number-line representations are higher in numeracy (number skills) consistent with previous research with children. Individuals with more precise representations (compared to those with less precise representations) also were more likely to choose larger, later amounts over smaller, immediate amounts, particularly with a larger proportional difference between the two monetary outcomes. In addition, they were more likely to choose an option with a larger proportional but smaller absolute difference compared to those with less precise representations. These results are consistent with intuitive number representations underlying: a) perceived differences between numbers, b) the extent to which proportional differences are weighed in decisions, and, ultimately, c) the valuation of decision options. Human decision processes involving numbers important to health and financial matters may be rooted in elementary, biological processes shared with other species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:52:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1ab22121ca8a45cc8b7534de94c348af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1930-2975 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:52:33Z |
| publishDate | 2008-12-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Judgment and Decision Making |
| spelling | doaj.art-1ab22121ca8a45cc8b7534de94c348af2023-09-03T09:20:21ZengCambridge University PressJudgment and Decision Making1930-29752008-12-01361963510.1017/S1930297500001571Intuitive numbers guide decisionsEllen Peters0Paul Slovic1Daniel Västfjäll2C. K. Mertz3Decision Research, Eugene, OR University of Oregon, Eugene, ORDecision Research, Eugene, OR University of Oregon, Eugene, ORDecision Research, Eugene, ORDecision Research, Eugene, ORMeasuring reaction times to number comparisons is thought to reveal a processing stage in elementary numerical cognition linked to internal, imprecise representations of number magnitudes. These intuitive representations of the mental number line have been demonstrated across species and human development but have been little explored in decision making. This paper develops and tests hypotheses about the influence of such evolutionarily ancient, intuitive numbers on human decisions. We demonstrate that individuals with more precise mental-number-line representations are higher in numeracy (number skills) consistent with previous research with children. Individuals with more precise representations (compared to those with less precise representations) also were more likely to choose larger, later amounts over smaller, immediate amounts, particularly with a larger proportional difference between the two monetary outcomes. In addition, they were more likely to choose an option with a larger proportional but smaller absolute difference compared to those with less precise representations. These results are consistent with intuitive number representations underlying: a) perceived differences between numbers, b) the extent to which proportional differences are weighed in decisions, and, ultimately, c) the valuation of decision options. Human decision processes involving numbers important to health and financial matters may be rooted in elementary, biological processes shared with other species.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1930297500001571/type/journal_articledecision makingnumerical cognitionnumeracyproportional reasoningindividual differences |
| spellingShingle | Ellen Peters Paul Slovic Daniel Västfjäll C. K. Mertz Intuitive numbers guide decisions Judgment and Decision Making decision making numerical cognition numeracy proportional reasoning individual differences |
| title | Intuitive numbers guide decisions |
| title_full | Intuitive numbers guide decisions |
| title_fullStr | Intuitive numbers guide decisions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intuitive numbers guide decisions |
| title_short | Intuitive numbers guide decisions |
| title_sort | intuitive numbers guide decisions |
| topic | decision making numerical cognition numeracy proportional reasoning individual differences |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1930297500001571/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ellenpeters intuitivenumbersguidedecisions AT paulslovic intuitivenumbersguidedecisions AT danielvastfjall intuitivenumbersguidedecisions AT ckmertz intuitivenumbersguidedecisions |