Incorporating episodic memory into quantum models of judgement and decision.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Quantum Physics
• Decision Theory

Background:

• Incorporating memory of recent judgments into quantum theories of cognition is a significant challenge.
• Existing models struggle to explain how past decisions affect subsequent ones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a general approach to measurement in quantum cognition using system-environment representations.
• To develop and compare measurement models that account for memory effects in decision-making.
• To explain puzzling question order effects in decision-making studies.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing a general measurement approach based on system plus environment representations.
• Developing generalized measurement models incorporating recent judgment effects.
• Comparing three distinct measurement models to analyze question order effects.

Main Results:

• The proposed measurement models successfully incorporate the influence of recent judgments on subsequent decisions.
• The models provide a framework for understanding and explaining question order effects.
• Demonstrated the utility of quantum measurement principles in cognitive modeling.

Conclusions:

• Quantum measurement models offer a powerful framework for understanding memory in decision-making.
• The approach addresses a critical gap in current quantum cognition theories.
• Provides a novel explanation for observed question order effects in psychological studies.