Northern Kentucky University
Causal Decision Making in College Students
Institution
Northern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
David Hogan
Abstract
In the present study, college students were required to press a computer key and observe whether a light bulb icon on the monitor changed in brightness. Under one experimental condition, the response-outcome contingency was random, but there was a high frequency of coincidence between pressing the switch and illuminating the light bulb (i.e. the probability of the outcome was .75). Under another experimental condition, the response-outcome contingency was random, but there was a relatively low frequency of coincidence (i.e., the probability of the outcome was .25). The purpose of the experiment was to see if a stronger illusion of control developed when the coincidence rate was high than when it was low. The results will shed light on the nature of experience, which leads people to believe that they have control over important consequences in their life when they really do not.
Causal Decision Making in College Students
In the present study, college students were required to press a computer key and observe whether a light bulb icon on the monitor changed in brightness. Under one experimental condition, the response-outcome contingency was random, but there was a high frequency of coincidence between pressing the switch and illuminating the light bulb (i.e. the probability of the outcome was .75). Under another experimental condition, the response-outcome contingency was random, but there was a relatively low frequency of coincidence (i.e., the probability of the outcome was .25). The purpose of the experiment was to see if a stronger illusion of control developed when the coincidence rate was high than when it was low. The results will shed light on the nature of experience, which leads people to believe that they have control over important consequences in their life when they really do not.