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ERIC Number: EJ1406852
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1524-8372
EISSN: EISSN-1532-7647
Children Learn Simple, Adaptive Decision Strategies from Probabilistic Feedback
Anna Lang; Tilmann Betsch
Journal of Cognition and Development, v25 n1 p148-173 2024
In two studies, children learned simple but adaptive decision strategies from decision feedback. In a probabilistic multi-cue decision task, we investigated children's decision strategies under different feedback conditions. In Study 1 (N = 313), 7- and 9-year-old German children learned the selective decision strategy Take-the-Best. Children learned Take-the-Best equally well in both strict and lenient feedback environments, but worse than adult controls. In Study 2 (N = 246), feedback reinforced either the selective Take-the-Best strategy or the holistic Equal-Weight strategy. Results showed that children adapted to both decision environments. Children used both strategies more or less frequently depending on the feedback structure. Adaptation to the environment favoring Equal-Weight was better overall. This was not because the feedback was more effective, but rather because children, especially the younger ones, tended to use the Equal-Weight strategy even in the absence of feedback. Consistent with this, both studies showed an age effect on strategy use: overall, older children used the selective Take-the-Best strategy more often, while younger children used the holistic Equal-Weight strategy more often. Our results show that feedback can quickly improve decisions and increase the use of adaptive decision strategies in children as young as six years old.
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A