Publications [#270553] of James R. Bettman

Journal Articles

1. Bettman, JR; Johnson, EJ; Luce, MF; Payne, JW, Correlation, Conflict, and Choice, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, vol. 19 no. 4 (January, 1993), pp. 931-951, American Psychological Association (APA), ISSN 0278-7393 [doi]
   (last updated on 2024/04/18)

   Abstract:
   We examined the degree to which individuals adapt their decision processes to the degree of interattribute correlation and conflict characterizing a decision problem. On the basis of an effort-accuracy framework for adaptive decision making, we predicted that the more negatively correlated the attribute structure, the more people will use strategies that process much of the relevant information and make trade-offs. A computer simulation study supported these predictions, and two experiments using process-tracing techniques to monitor information acquisition indicated that individuals did indeed respond to interattribute correlation by shifting their processing strategies in ways that are adaptive according to the effort-accuracy framework. In particular, they faced conflict rather than avoided it and generally processed more information, were less selective, and showed more alternative-based processing in negatively correlated environments.