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Reachability Does Not Explain the Middle Preference: A Comment on Bar-Hillel (2015).
Paul Rodway1, Astrid Schepman1, Volker Thoma2
1Department of Psychology, University of Chester, Chester, UK.
I-Perception
|July 20, 2016
Summary
People often prefer items in the middle of a group, but this "middle preference" isn't just about easy reach. Our study suggests a "center-stage heuristic" better explains why middle items are chosen more often.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Decision Making
- Perception
Background:
- People frequently choose items from arrays of similar objects.
- Research shows a robust
- middle preference
- where items in the center are chosen more often.
- This preference is observed across various perceptual-motor tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Bar-Hillel's (2015) reachability explanation for the middle preference.
- To investigate the influence of item valence on choices in non-interactive situations.
- To determine a more plausible explanation for the observed middle preference.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of existing literature on choice behavior and the middle preference.
- Evaluation of the reachability hypothesis against empirical evidence.
- Consideration of item valence effects in non-interactive choice scenarios.
Main Results:
- The reachability explanation alone does not fully account for the middle preference.
- Item valence demonstrably affects choices in non-interactive settings.
- Evidence suggests that factors beyond simple reachability influence the middle preference.
Conclusions:
- The middle preference is not solely explained by physical or mental reachability.
- A "center-stage heuristic" provides a more comprehensive explanation for why central items are preferentially chosen.
- Future research should explore cognitive biases influencing object selection.
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