文章基本信息

标题：Intuitive numbers guide decisions
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作者：Peters, Ellen ; Slovic, Paul ; Vastfjall, Daniel 等
期刊名称：Judgment and Decision Making
印刷版ISSN：1930-2975
出版年度：2008
卷号：3
期号：8
页码：619-635
出版社：Society for Judgment and Decision Making
摘要：Measuring reaction times to number comparisons is thought to reveal a processing stage in elementary numerical cognition linked to internal, imprecise representations of number magnitudes. These intuitive representations of the mental number line have been demonstrated across species and human development but have been little explored in decision making. This paper develops and tests hypotheses about the influence of such evolutionarily ancient, intuitive numbers on human decisions. We demonstrate that individuals with more precise mental-number-line representations are higher in numeracy (number skills) consistent with previous research with children. Individuals with more precise representations (compared to those with less precise representations) also were more likely to choose larger, later amounts over smaller, immediate amounts, particularly with a larger proportional difference between the two monetary outcomes. In addition, they were more likely to choose an option with a larger proportional but smaller absolute difference compared to those with less precise representations. These results are consistent with intuitive number representations underlying : a) perceived differences between numbers, b) the extent to which proportional differences are weighed in decisions, and, ultimately, c) the valuation of decision options. Human decision processes involving numbers important to health and financial matters may be rooted in elementary, biological processes shared with other species.
关键词：decision making; numerical cognition; numeracy; proportional reasoning; individual differences.