title: Is it time for studying real-life debiasing? Evaluation of the effectiveness of an analogical intervention technique.
abstract: The aim of this study was to initiate the exploration of debiasing methods applicable in real-life settings for achieving lasting improvement in decision making competence regarding multiple decision biases. Here, we tested the potentials of the analogical encoding method for decision debiasing. The advantage of this method is that it can foster the transfer from learning abstract principles to improving behavioral performance. For the purpose of the study, we devised an analogical debiasing technique for 10 biases (covariation detection, insensitivity to sample size, base rate neglect, regression to the mean, outcome bias, sunk cost fallacy, framing effect, anchoring bias, overconfidence bias, planning fallacy) and assessed the susceptibility of the participants (N = 154) to these biases before and 4 weeks after the training. We also compared the effect of the analogical training to the effect of 'awareness training' and a 'no-training' control group. Results suggested improved performance of the analogical training group only on tasks where the violations of statistical principles are measured. The interpretation of these findings require further investigation, yet it is possible that analogical training may be the most effective in the case of learning abstract concepts, such as statistical principles, which are otherwise difficult to master. The study encourages a systematic research of debiasing trainings and the development of intervention assessment methods to measure the endurance of behavior change in decision debiasing.
authors: Institute of Psychology, Eotvos Lorand University Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Balazs
authors: B
authors: Aczel
authors: Paris Descartes University Paris, France.
authors: Bence
authors: B
authors: Bago
authors: Institute of Psychology, Eotvos Lorand University Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Aba
authors: A
authors: Szollosi
authors: Institute of Psychology, Eotvos Lorand University Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Andrei
authors: A
authors: Foldes
authors: Corvinus University of Budapest Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Bence
authors: B
authors: Lukacs
keywords: analogical training; debiasing; heuristics and biases; intervention assessments; judgment and decision making