title: Take-the-best and the influence of decision-inconsistent attributes on decision confidence and choices in memory-based decisions.
abstract: Take-the-best (TTB) is a decision strategy according to which attributes about choice options are sequentially processed in descending order of validity, and attribute processing is stopped once an attribute discriminates between options. Consequently, TTB-decisions rely on only one, the best discriminating, attribute, and lower-valid attributes need not be processed because they are TTB-irrelevant. Recent research suggests, however, that when attribute information is visually present during decision-making, TTB-irrelevant attributes are processed and integrated into decisions nonetheless. To examine whether TTB-irrelevant attributes are retrieved and integrated when decisions are made memory-based, we tested whether the consistency of a TTB-irrelevant attribute affects TTB-users' decision behaviour in a memory-based decision task. Participants first learned attribute configurations of several options. Afterwards, they made several decisions between two of the options, and we manipulated conflict between the second-best attribute and the TTB-decision. We assessed participants' decision confidence and the proportion of TTB-inconsistent choices. According to TTB, TTB-irrelevant attributes should not affect confidence and choices, because these attributes should not be retrieved. Results showed, however, that TTB-users were less confident and made more TTB-inconsistent choices when TTB-irrelevant information was in conflict with the TTB-decision than when it was not, suggesting that TTB-users retrieved and integrated TTB-irrelevant information.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Heidelberg University , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dummel
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Heidelberg University , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rummel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Decision-making; evidence accumulation; memory-based decisions; parallel constraint satisfaction; take-the-best strategy