Successful everyday decision making: Combining attributes and associates
How do people make everyday decisions in order to achieve the most successful outcome? Decision making research typically evaluates choices according to their expected utility. However, this research largely focuses outcome is successful and satisfying for the decision maker. Instead, we use an ever...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Judgment and Decision Making |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.sjdm.org/22/220303/jdm220303.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797705215504285696 |
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| author | Adrian P. Banks David M. Gamblin |
| author_facet | Adrian P. Banks David M. Gamblin |
| author_sort | Adrian P. Banks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | How do people make
everyday decisions in order to achieve the most successful outcome? Decision
making research typically evaluates choices according to their expected
utility. However, this research largely focuses outcome is successful and
satisfying for the decision maker. Instead, we use an everyday decision making
task in which participants describe a personally meaningful decision they are
currently facing. We investigate the decision processes used to make this
decision, and evaluate how successful and satisfying the outcome of the
decision is for them. We examine how well analytic, attribute-based processes
explain everyday decision making and predict decision outcomes, and we compare
these processes to associative processes elicited through free association. We
also examine the characteristics of decisions and individuals that are
associated with good decision outcomes. Across three experiments we found
that: 1) an analytic decision analysis of everyday decisions is not superior to
simpler attribute-based processes in predicting decision outcomes; 2) contrary
to research linking associative cognition to biases, free association generates
valid cues that predict choice and decision outcomes as effectively as
attribute-based approaches; 3) contrary to research favouring either
attribute-based or associative processes, combining both attribute-based and
associates best explains everyday decisions and most accurately predicts
decision outcomes; and 4) individuals with a tendency to attempt analytic
thinking do not make more successful everyday decisions. Instead, frequency,
simplicity, and knowledge of the decision predict success. We propose that
attribute-based and associative processes, in combination, both explain
everyday decision making and predict successful decision outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:32:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cdb3e969a9554ae09246d7f42b74ae61 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1930-2975 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:32:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Judgment and Decision Making |
| spelling | doaj.art-cdb3e969a9554ae09246d7f42b74ae612023-09-03T06:46:35ZengCambridge University PressJudgment and Decision Making1930-29752022-11-0117612551286Successful everyday decision making: Combining attributes and associatesAdrian P. BanksDavid M. GamblinHow do people make everyday decisions in order to achieve the most successful outcome? Decision making research typically evaluates choices according to their expected utility. However, this research largely focuses outcome is successful and satisfying for the decision maker. Instead, we use an everyday decision making task in which participants describe a personally meaningful decision they are currently facing. We investigate the decision processes used to make this decision, and evaluate how successful and satisfying the outcome of the decision is for them. We examine how well analytic, attribute-based processes explain everyday decision making and predict decision outcomes, and we compare these processes to associative processes elicited through free association. We also examine the characteristics of decisions and individuals that are associated with good decision outcomes. Across three experiments we found that: 1) an analytic decision analysis of everyday decisions is not superior to simpler attribute-based processes in predicting decision outcomes; 2) contrary to research linking associative cognition to biases, free association generates valid cues that predict choice and decision outcomes as effectively as attribute-based approaches; 3) contrary to research favouring either attribute-based or associative processes, combining both attribute-based and associates best explains everyday decisions and most accurately predicts decision outcomes; and 4) individuals with a tendency to attempt analytic thinking do not make more successful everyday decisions. Instead, frequency, simplicity, and knowledge of the decision predict success. We propose that attribute-based and associative processes, in combination, both explain everyday decision making and predict successful decision outcomes.http://journal.sjdm.org/22/220303/jdm220303.pdfeveryday decision making; improving decision making; free association; associative cognition; multiattribute utility; decision analysisnakeywords |
| spellingShingle | Adrian P. Banks David M. Gamblin Successful everyday decision making: Combining attributes and associates Judgment and Decision Making everyday decision making; improving decision making; free association; associative cognition; multiattribute utility; decision analysisnakeywords |
| title | Successful everyday
decision making: Combining attributes and associates |
| title_full | Successful everyday
decision making: Combining attributes and associates |
| title_fullStr | Successful everyday
decision making: Combining attributes and associates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Successful everyday
decision making: Combining attributes and associates |
| title_short | Successful everyday
decision making: Combining attributes and associates |
| title_sort | successful everyday decision making combining attributes and associates |
| topic | everyday decision making; improving decision making; free association; associative cognition; multiattribute utility; decision analysisnakeywords |
| url | http://journal.sjdm.org/22/220303/jdm220303.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT adrianpbanks successfuleverydaydecisionmakingcombiningattributesandassociates AT davidmgamblin successfuleverydaydecisionmakingcombiningattributesandassociates |