Capturing the Policies of Time-Constrained Decision Makers: The Effects of Deadline Control, Cue Structure and Individual Difference Variables

摘要

The purpose of the study was to systematically vary both the time available and the structure of information cues for decision problems within a policy-capturing framework. Seventy-eight subjects were randomly assigned to structured or unstructured cue conditions and were asked to make policy decisions under three deadline conditions: unlimited time, a deadline selected by the subject within specified limits, and a deadline imposed by the experimenter. The results showed that decision makers' policies became simpler in terms of the amount of information used when exposed to deadlines. Contrary to expectations, information usage did not improve under self-selected time limits to experimenter-imposed deadlines. Providing structure to information cues caused observable decreases in the linear consistency of subjects' policies. Structure also resulted in lower self-insight about the actual usage of the provided information. Two individual difference variables, Type A coronary-prone behavior profiles and cognitive complexity, were measured via the Jenkins Activity Schedule and an experimental Complexity Self-description Questionnaire.