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Selective exposure to information: how different modes of decision making affect subsequent confirmatory information
Peter Fischer1, Julia Fischer, Silke Weisweiler
1Department of Psychology, Social Psychology, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Austria. peter.fischer@uni-graz.at
The British Journal of Social Psychology
|May 12, 2010
Summary
Decision-making mode impacts information processing. Deliberate or intuitive decisions enhance confirmatory bias, while distracted decisions lead to more balanced information evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Decision Science
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Understanding how decision-making processes influence subsequent information evaluation is crucial for cognitive and social psychology.
- Prior research suggests biases in information processing can stem from various cognitive states.
- The specific impact of different decision-making modes (deliberate, intuitive, distracted) on confirmatory processing remains an area for detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of distinct decision-making modes—deliberate, intuitive, and distracted—on subsequent confirmatory information processing.
- To examine how cognitive or affective reasons for a decision influence confidence and information processing.
- To contrast information processing patterns following distracted decision-making with those following deliberate or intuitive decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving participants making decisions under different modes: deliberate, intuitive, and distracted.
- Participants' subsequent processing of information consistent and inconsistent with their decisions was measured.
- Subjective confidence in decision validity was assessed, particularly in Study 2.
Main Results:
- Participants exhibited higher levels of confirmatory information processing after deliberate or intuitive decisions compared to decisions made under distraction (Studies 1 and 2).
- Cognitive or affective justifications for a decision increased subjective confidence, leading to heightened confirmatory processing (Study 2).
- Distracted decision-making resulted in lower decision certainty and more balanced processing of relevant information.
Conclusions:
- The mode of decision-making significantly influences the extent to which individuals engage in confirmatory information processing.
- A clear cognitive or affective basis for a decision strengthens confidence and promotes biased information seeking.
- Distraction during decision-making mitigates confirmatory bias by fostering greater objectivity in subsequent information evaluation.
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