title: Using the Networked Fire Chief for ego-depletion research: measuring dynamic decision-making effort and performance.
abstract: This study replicated ego-depletion predictions from the self-control literature in a computer simulation task that requires ongoing decision-making in relation to constantly changing environmental information: the Network Fire Chief (NFC). Ego-depletion led to decreased self-regulatory effort, but not performance, on the NFC task. These effects were also buffered by task enjoyment so that individuals who enjoyed the dynamic decision-making task did not experience ego-depletion effects. These findings confirm that past ego-depletion effects on decision-making are not limited to static or isolated decision-making tasks and can be extended to dynamic, naturalistic decision-making processes more common to naturalistic settings. Furthermore, the NFC simulation provides a methodological mechanism for independently measuring effort and performance when studying ego-depletion.
authors.affiliation: a Northern Illinois University.
authors.forename: Larissa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Brandon W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Smit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D004532:Ego; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057190:Stroop Test; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: computer microworlds; dynamic decision-making; ego-depletion; motivation; self-control