Heuristics and Criterion Setting during Selective Encoding in Visual Decision-Making: Evidence from Eye Movements

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Decision Science
• Visual Perception

Background:

• The gaze bias effect describes longer viewing of chosen options during decision-making, even on initial encounters.
• Previous research suggests this bias stems from selective, on-line encoding of decision-relevant information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether the reliability of visual cues influences the gaze bias effect.
• To test the hypothesis that people selectively encode decision-relevant information during initial encounters with options.

Main Methods:

• Eye movements of subjects were recorded while they judged image pairs based on recency.
• Image presentation was manipulated regarding color content consistency and its reliability as a cue for image recency.

Main Results:

• The gaze bias effect's magnitude decreased when color content was an unreliable cue for image recency.
• No significant modulation of the gaze bias effect was observed in the remaining trial time.

Conclusions:

• These findings support the theory that individuals selectively encode decision-relevant information on-line.
• The reliability of perceptual cues influences the extent to which gaze bias is exhibited during decision-making.