Who gives a criterion shift? A uniquely individualistic cognitive trait

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Decision Science

Background:

• Individuals often fail to optimally adjust decision criteria, even when aware of the benefits.
• Existing research highlights individual differences in criterion shifting but lacks data on its temporal stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the stability of strategic criterion shifting within individuals over time.
• To explore factors influencing individual differences in criterion shifting.

Main Methods:

• Administered test-retest recognition memory and visual detection tasks.
• Induced decision biases using instructions, payoff, and base rate manipulations.
• Assessed criterion shifting stability across different decision domains and under various inducements.

Main Results:

• Criterion shifting tendencies were found to be stable within and across decision domains.
• Individual differences in shifting were not explained by personality, metacognition, motivation, or other cognitive tasks.
• Confidence ratings showed no inherent relationship to shifting extent, suggesting a potential unwillingness to shift rather than inability.

Conclusions:

• Strategic criterion shifting is a stable and uniquely individual cognitive trait.
• This stability suggests a consistent underlying decision-making strategy.
• Findings challenge the notion of universal suboptimality in criterion placement, emphasizing individual differences.