Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
Published on: September 19, 2012
Impact of uncertainty and ambiguous outcome phrasing on moral decision-making
Yiyun Shou1, Joel Olney1, Michael Smithson1
1Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Abstract:
The literature has shown that different types of moral dilemmas elicit discrepant decision patterns. The present research investigated the role of uncertainty in contributing to these decision patterns. Two studies were conducted to examine participants' choices in commonly used dilemmas. Study 1 showed that participants' perceived outcome probabilities were significantly associated with their moral choices, and that these associations were independent from the dilemma type. Study 2 revealed that participants had significantly less preference for killing the individual when the outcome probabilities were stated using the modal verb 'will' than when they were stated using the numerical phrasing of '100%'. Our findings illustrate a discord between experimenter and participant in the interpretation of task instructions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Decision Making
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
Framing Effects
Frustration and Conflict: Avoidance-Avoidance, Double-Approach Avoidance
Reason and Intuition
Ethical Dilemmas II
Uncertainty: Overview

