Reimers, S., Stewart, Neil and Chater, Nick (2003) Choice set options affect the valuation of risky prospects. In: 25th Annual Conference of the Cognitive-Science-Society, Boston, MA, JUL 31-AUG 02, 2003. Published in: PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE COGNITIVE SCIENCE SOCIETY, Pts 1 and 2 pp. 988-993. ISBN 0-8058-4991-2.

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Abstract

A series of experiments is used to investigate the extent to which valuation of a risky prospect is affected by the values from which a participant selects a response. Three variables were considered: a smaller risk-free amount, a larger risky amount, and the probability of winning the larger amount. There were three conditions: in each, two of the three variables were held constant, and participants chose the value for the third variable that made the risky and risk-free options worth the same to them. This was done first by a free-choice valuation, and then, with different participants, by choosing one of four options that were either all below or all above the population free-choice median. The options presented had a strong effect on valuation of the missing variable. This effect remained even when the free-choice and multiple-choice conditions were presented within subjects. This demonstrates that people showing rational and consistent risk evaluation strategies could have their risk aversion manipulated by context. Overall, the experiments suggest that people's propensity for risk aversion is manipulable by context. This is problematic finding for traditional, context-independent, theories of decision under risk.

Item Type:	Conference Item (Paper)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Journal or Publication Title:	PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE COGNITIVE SCIENCE SOCIETY, Pts 1 and 2
Publisher:	LAWRENCE ERLBAUM ASSOC PUBL
ISBN:	0-8058-4991-2
Editor:	Alterman, R and Kirsh, D
Official Date:	2003
Dates:	Date Event 2003 UNSPECIFIED
Number of Pages:	6
Page Range:	pp. 988-993
Status:	Not Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Conference Paper Type:	Paper
Title of Event:	25th Annual Conference of the Cognitive-Science-Society
Type of Event:	Conference
Location of Event:	Boston, MA
Date(s) of Event:	JUL 31-AUG 02, 2003

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