Dual processing model Flashcards
(17 cards)
What was the aim of Tversky and Kahneman (1974)?
To test anchoring bias
Tversky: Who were the participants?
High schoolers
Tversky: What was the procedure?
Ascending condition = asked to quickly estimate the value of ascending numbers multiplied (1x2x3x4x5x6x7x8).
Descending condition = same but reverse order
What were the results of Tversky and Kahneman?
The median for the ascending group was lower, and the descending group was higher.
Tversky: What do the results demonstrate?
Anchoring bias. When the first number is “1”, they estimate a lower result. When the first number is “8” they estimate a higher result as they anchor to the first number.
How does Tversky and Kahneman link to the Dual Processing Model?
Participants defaulted to system 1 thinking (mental shortcuts), showing how it affects decision-making.
What were the strengths of Tversky & Kahneman’s study?
- Easily replicated –> can establish reliability
- Highly controlled, high internal validity. Cause-effect relationship established.
- Median was used instead of the mean, reducing effect of outliers.
What are weaknesses of Tversky and Kahneman’s study?
- Low ecological validity as we often don’t need to estimate something in 5 seconds. Can findings really be applied?
- Independent samples design. Participant variability (math competency) may have affected results. Matched pairs design would have been better.
What was the aim of Englich and Mussweiler (2001)
To test whether the sentence recommendation made by the prosecutor (high or low) affects a juries decision.
E: What values were used for the two conditions
High (34 months)
Low (2 months)
E: What was the experimental design
Independent samples design
E: Who were the participants?
19 Young trial judges
E: What was the case?
Alleged rape case
E: What was the “pilot study” used for?
They used law students recommended prison terms for the fake case (which was around 17 months). Used this as a reference for the anchors.
E: What were the results?
Low anchor = the average sentence was 18 months. Still higher than anchor but significantly lower than high anchor.
High anchor = 28 months
What were strengths of Englich’s study?
- True experiment -> cause and effect.
- Pilot study helped validate the realism and appropriateness of anchors.
- High ecological validity
What were limitations of Englich’s study?
- Small sample size, meaning it’s difficult to generalise. Also, findings can only really apply to young, inexperienced judges.
- Independent samples design may introduce participant variability.
