Kämmer,J.E.
Gaissmaier,W.
Czienskowski,U.

Individuals have been shown to adaptively select decision strategies$\backslash$ndepending on the environment structure. Two experiments extended$\backslash$nthis research to the group level. Subjects (N = 240) worked either$\backslash$nindividually or in two-person groups, or dyads, on a multi-attribute$\backslash$npaired-comparison task. They were randomly assigned to two different$\backslash$nenvironments that favored one of two prototypical decision strategies--weighted$\backslash$nadditive or take-the-best (between-subjects design in Experiment$\backslash$n1 and within-subject design in Experiment 2). Performance measures$\backslash$nrevealed that both individuals and dyads learned to adapt over time.$\backslash$nA higher starting and overall performance rate in the environment$\backslash$nin which weighted additive performed best led to the conclusion that$\backslash$nweighted additive served as a default strategy. When this default$\backslash$nstrategy had to be replaced, because the environment structure favored$\backslash$ntake-the-best, the superior adaptive capacity of dyads became observable$\backslash$nin the form of a steeper learning rate. Analyses of nominal dyads$\backslash$nindicate that real dyads performed at the level of the best individuals.$\backslash$nFine-grained analyses of information-search data are presented. Results$\backslash$nthus point to the strong moderating role of the environment structure$\backslash$nwhen comparing individual with group performance and are discussed$\backslash$nwithin the framework of adaptive strategy selection. (PsycINFO Database$\backslash$nRecord (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

Kämmer, J. E., Gaissmaier, W., & Czienskowski, U. (2013). The environment matters: Comparing individuals and dyads in their adaptive use of decision strategies. Judgment and Decision Making, 8, 299-329. (Full text)

Publication year	2013
Document type:	Article
Publication status:	Published
External URL:	http://journal.sjdm.org/12/12814/jdm12814.pdf View
Categories:	Take-the-bestEnvironment Structure
Keywords:	adaptive strategy selectionenvironment structuregroup decision making