The effect of number of options on choices involving delayed causation
by Nguyen, Nam, M.A., SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AT CARBONDALE, 2009, 67 pages; 1465044

Abstract:

In this study of causal decision-making, a video game was adapted to explore factors affecting causal judgment in a dynamic setting. In the experiment, participants were presented with groups of potential targets. The participants were tasked with discriminating which one of the potential targets was producing a secondary event in the form of distal explosions on objects. Delay and number of alternatives were varied. Choice accuracies and latencies were recorded for each participant. Choice accuracies were converted into discriminability metrics using signal detection theory. The experiment revealed a main effect of delay on discriminability but no effect of the number of alternatives. For latency, the analysis revealed main effects for: delay, number of alternatives, sex, as well as a significant Delay × Number of alternatives interaction. The results suggest that discriminability is maintained across different numbers of targets by compensating with longer observation times. Demographic analysis revealed an effect of total experience for discriminability and effect of sex and types of games played on latency.

 
AdviserMichael E. Young
SchoolSOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AT CARBONDALE
SourceMAI/ 47-06, p. , Jul 2009
Source TypeThesis
SubjectsPsychology; Experimental psychology; Cognitive psychology
Publication Number1465044
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