Assessing the empirical validity of the "take-the-best" heuristic as a model of human probabilistic inference.
The boundedly rational 'Take-The-Best" heuristic (TTB) was proposed by G. Gigerenzer, U. Hoffrage, and H. Kleinbölting (1991) as a model of fast and frugal probabilistic inferences. Although the simple lexicographic rule proved to be successful in computer simulations, direct empirical demonstrations of its adequacy as a psychological model are lacking because of several methodical problems. In 4 experiments with a total of 210 participants, this question was addressed. Whereas Experiment 1 showed that TTB is not valid as a universal hypothesis about probabilistic inferences, up to 28% of participants in Experiment 2 and 53% of participants in Experiment 3 were classified as TTB users. Experiment 4 revealed that investment costs for information seem to be a relevant factor leading participants to switch to a noncompensatory TTB strategy. The observed individual differences in strategy use imply the recommendation of an idiographic approach to decision-making research.
Bröder
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University of Bonn, Germany. Arndt.Broeder@uni-bonn.de
D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007858:Learning; D008128:Logic; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015233:Models, Statistical