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Searching choices : quantifying decision-making processes using search engine data
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Moat, Helen Susannah, Olivola, Christopher Y., Chater, Nick and Preis, Tobias (2016) Searching choices : quantifying decision-making processes using search engine data. Topics in Cognitive Science, 8 . pp. 685-696. doi:10.1111/tops.12207 ISSN 1756-8757.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tops.12207
Abstract
When making a decision, humans consider two types of information: information they have acquired through their prior experience of the world, and further information they gather to support the decision in question. Here, we present evidence that data from search engines such as Google can help us model both sources of information. We show that statistics from search engines on the frequency of content on the Internet can help us estimate the statistical structure of prior experience; and, specifically, we outline how such statistics can inform psychological theories concerning the valuation of human lives, or choices involving delayed outcomes. Turning to information gathering, we show that search query data might help measure human information gathering, and it may predict subsequent decisions. Such data enable us to compare information gathered across nations, where analyses suggest, for example, a greater focus on the future in countries with a higher per capita GDP. We conclude that search engine data constitute a valuable new resource for cognitive scientists, offering a fascinating new tool for understanding the human decision-making process.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||||
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| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Electronic computers. Computer science. Computer software |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Behavioural Science Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
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| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Search engines , Wikis (Computer science), Psychology, Decision making | ||||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Topics in Cognitive Science | ||||||||
| Publisher: | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc. | ||||||||
| ISSN: | 1756-8757 | ||||||||
| Official Date: | 1 June 2016 | ||||||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | 8 | ||||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 685-696 | ||||||||
| DOI: | 10.1111/tops.12207 | ||||||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||||||
| Date of first compliant deposit: | 13 June 2016 | ||||||||
| Date of first compliant Open Access: | 13 June 2016 | ||||||||
| Funder: | Research Councils UK (RCUK), Templeton Foundation, European Research Council (ERC), Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC), Leverhulme Trust (LT) | ||||||||
| Grant number: | EP/K039830/1 (RCUK), 95917-RATIONALITY (ERC), | ||||||||
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