Information integration in price-quality tradeoffs: The effect of missing information

Support for averaging processes in information integration has relied on experimental designs in which the amount of information to be integrated was varied. The usual interpretation is that subjects balance the values of the various stimuli presented on a given trial. An alternative interpretation is that subjects may use their perceptions of the relationship between stimulus dimensions to infer the value of missing information. In the present study, subjects were asked to rate their expected satisfaction with purchases of ground beef on the basis of quality and/or price information. The responses of some subjects appeared to be based on the inference that high prices imply high quality and low prices imply low quality when no quality information is given. Other subjects appeared to assign a constant value to missing information. An averaging model that incorporates inferred as well as presented stimulus values is proposed.     

Model for Assessing Quality of Online Health Information: A Fuzzy VIKOR Based Method

Today, tens and thousands of websites provide health‐related information on various topics to a growing number of consumers. However, the lay user is often faced with a challenge of determining the quality of information provided by one site from the other. To ensure the protection of users from sites that provide unreliable and unsafe information, there has to be a competent reviewing body that rates and ranks the quality of information provided by each site. This paper (i) proposes a new criteria framework for assessing the quality of online health information and (ii) uses a fuzzy ‘visekriterijumska optimicija i kompromisno resenje’ method to demonstrate how online health information providers could be assessed and ranked based on their quality. The fuzzy modelling uses pre‐defined linguistic variables parameterized by triangular fuzzy numbers in the assessment and subsequent ranking of providers under a particular health topic. A numerical example is demonstrated using diabetes online information providers to show how the assessment and ranking is carried out. The proposed framework provides functional basis for evaluating the quality of internet health information providers on any particular health topic. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of contextual information and past prices on the willingness to pay and expected quality evaluations

This study conducted two experiments to assess consumers' willingness to pay or the expected quality in response to different levels of contradictory contextual information (regarding price and quality) and the presence of anchors in the form of past price paid. First, the results show that the contextual information was decisive in the formation of reference prices that affect the willingness to pay. Second, the anchors did not influence the evaluation of the willingness to pay and the expected quality. And third, it was observed that the coherence of the contextual information (price–quality correlation) performs a moderating role in the relation between reference prices and expected quality. These results suggest that anchors are less important than contextual information in the evaluation process of the willingness to pay and the expected quality, and that therefore neither an adjustment nor a priming mechanism is activated. We found that the coherence of the contextual information influences how individuals evaluate a service. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Selective Hypothesis Testing Perspective on Price‐Quality Inference and Inference‐Based Choice

Consumers often rely heavily on price as a predictor of quality and typically overestimate the strength of this relation. Furthermore, the inferences of quality they make on the basis of price can influence their actual purchase decisions. Selective hypothesis testing appears to underlie the effects of information load and format on price–quality inferences. Results of 5 experiments converge on the conclusion that quality inferences are more heavily influenced by price when individuals have a high need for cognitive closure, when the amount of information presented is high (vs. low), and when the information presented is rank ordered in terms of quality rather than presented randomly. Furthermore, because consumers are willing to purchase more expensive brands when they perceive a high price–quality correlation, these variables can also influence their purchase decisions.     

直觉和分析在不同信息获取与呈现方式下对多特征目标判断质量的影响

采用多特征目标判断任务,考察了不同信息获取方式与信息呈现方式条件下,直觉和分析思维模式对判断质量的影响。结果发现：（1）在多特征目标判断任务中,直觉思维比分析思维更有效;（2）直觉型决策者运用直觉思维的判断质量比感觉型决策者更高;（3）归类组块的信息呈现方式能够有效提升决策者运用直觉思维的判断质量;（4）思维模式、信息获取方式与信息呈现方式对多特征目标的判断质量存在三阶交互作用,归类组块的信息呈现方式使直觉型决策者运用直觉思维的判断质量最高,而运用分析思维的判断质量低于感觉型决策者;归类组块排列信息时,直觉型决策者运用分析思维的判断质量低于信息随机排列时的水平。     

Temporal integration of spatially filtered visual images.

Factors which govern the temporal integration of spatial information were examined in a group of five experiments. A series of high-pass and low-pass spatially filtered versions of a visual scene were generated. Observers' ratings of these filtered versions of the scene for perceived image quality indicated that quality was determined both by the bandwidth of spatial information and the presence of high-spatial-frequency edge information. When sequences of three different versions of the scene were presented over an interval of 120 ms the perceived quality of the resulting composite image was determined both from the ratings of the individual components of that sequence and from the order in which these components were presented. When the order of spatial information in a sequence moved from coarse to fine detail the perceived quality of the composite image was significantly better than when the order moved from fine to coarse. This evidence of a coarse-to-fine bias in pattern integration was further investigated with a detection paradigm. The pattern of errors once again indicated that temporal integration of spatial information was superior when a coarse-to-fine mode of information delivery was employed. Taken together the data indicate that the pattern-integration mechanism has an inherent order bias and does not accumulate spatial information so efficiently when the 'natural' coarse-to-fine order is violated.     

Information sampling and group decision making: the effects of an advocacy decision procedure and task experience

Group discussions tend to focus on information that was previously known by all members (shared information) rather than information known by only 1 member (unshared information). If the shared information implies a suboptimal alternative, this sampling bias is associated with inaccurate group decisions. The present study examines the impact of 2 factors on information exchange and decision quality: (a) an advocacy group decision procedure versus unstructured discussion and (b) task experience. Results show that advocacy groups discussed both more shared and unshared information than free-discussion groups. Further, with increasing experience, more unshared information was mentioned in advocacy groups. In contrast, there was no such increase in unstructured discussions. Yet advocacy groups did not significantly improve their decision quality with experience.     

Competitive conflict regulation and informational dependence in peer learning

The present set of studies investigates the role of competitive conflict regulation and informational dependence in peer learning. Previous studies have shown that peer work on identical information produces not only confrontation of viewpoints but also competitive conflict regulation, the latter of which is detrimental for learning. Conversely, working on complementary information produces positive interactions but also informational dependence, and good quality information transmission is needed to foster learning. The present research shows that discussion aids (note‐taking and access to the study materials during discussion), a variable related to the quality of informational input, moderated the relationship between information interdependence and learning. This moderation was mediated by competitive conflict regulation: Students who worked on identical information with discussion aids reported more competitive conflict regulation than those without discussion aids, which in turn reduced learning, a pattern that did not appear for students working on complementary information. Moreover, when students worked on complementary information, the good quality of information transmission elicited by discussion aids led to high levels of learning for all students. Contributions to research on resource interdependence, socio‐cognitive conflict, and peer learning are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tools for Assessing Readability and Quality of Health-Related Web Sites

With the Internet becoming a growing source of information on genetics, genetic counselors and other health-care providers may be called upon to guide their patients to appropriate material, which is written at a suitable reading level for the individual and contains quality information. Given that many health-related Web sites are written at a high school or higher reading level, without direction from a genetic counselor or health-care provider, many Internet users may currently be turning to health-related Web sites that they do not understand. Additionally, Internet users may not know how to evaluate the quality of information they find, which could lead to them access inaccurate or irrelevant information. To aid in the process of finding and designing Web sites that are appropriate for patients, the current article provides guidelines for assessing readability and quality of health-related content. Additionally, a demonstration of an assessment is provided. Finally, limitations of these assessments are discussed.     

Consumer Search in High Technology Markets: Exploring the Use of Traditional Information Channels

Understanding the use of information channels during the purchase process for high technology durable goods is vital if marketing managers want to efficiently allocate their communication budgets. This article examines how the perceived quality of information, as well as demographic and other consumer characteristics, affects consumers’ information‐channel‐choice behavior. The results suggest that (a) information channels operate as substitutes as far as information quality is concerned; (b) during each segment of the search consumers tend to use multiple sources of information, and in that context information channels act as complements, which illustrates the synergistic effect of search between channels and the importance of jointly estimating consumers’ information channel choices; and (c) utility derived from information search changes as time passes, which indicates that empirical research should use panel data to capture the dynamics of the search process.     

Effects of escalated exposure to information on accuracy of personality judgment

In an investigation of the effects of increasing exposure to information on accuracy of personality trait judgments, judges rated a single target on three successive occasions, each of which involved the introduction of a novel piece of personal information. Varying the order in which types of information were presented allowed us to jointly examine the effects of information quality and quantity on accuracy in personality judgment. We found that (a) in general, more information led to higher accuracy, (b) some types of information led to greater gains in distinctive or normative accuracy, and (c) introduction of lower quality information did not negatively affect accuracy.     

A Model of Financial Incentive Effects in Decision Making

This paper proposes a model of the mediating processes whereby performance-contingent financial incentives influence decision quality and provides empirical evidence relevant to assessing the model. We hypothesize that performance-contingent incentives impact both cognitions and emotions, and that these cognitive and affective changes mediate the relationship between incentives and decision quality. To test these hypotheses, 84 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to conditions in which financial incentives were either performance contingent or randomly distributed. Participants used software that collected data on their information processing behavior to make choices from multiattribute choice information displays. After completing their choices, participants′ level of negative affect was assessed. Consistent with the predictions of the model, participants offered performance-contingent incentives took longer to choose, examined more information, had higher levels of negative affect, and used decision strategies that led to more accurate choices than participants offered randomly distributed incentives. Path analyses using structural equations modeling indicated that the changes in information processing behavior induced by financial incentives increased decision quality, while the increased levels of negative affect associated with incentives decreased decision quality. The paper concludes that identifying and measuring mediating variables is an important component of a research agenda designed to generate predictive theory of the relationship between financial incentives and decision quality.     

Visual perception of technical execution and aesthetic quality in biological motion

This study tests the contributions of structural and transformational information in the perception of technical execution and aesthetic quality in gymnastics judging. A focal question was whether the quality of human movement usually called aesthetic belongs to some category different from mere transformations of position over time, i.e., kinematics. Qualified gymnastics judges (Elite/Class I and Class III) and naive observers rated 30 performances of a 30-sec pass from a compulsory balance beam routine (Class III girls). The same performances were rated for technical execution and aesthetic quality under point-light and normal viewing conditions. Within observer groups there were no differences in scores for technical execution or aesthetic quality. Correlation analyses indicated that all three groups of observers rated performances with similar trends across point-light and normal display conditions for technical execution (range 0.67–0.87). Significantly lower correlations were found for aesthetic quality within all three groups(range 0.46–0.56). Naive observers showed the highest correlations between technical execution and aesthetic quality in both point-light and normal display conditions. Results suggest that transformational information provides much of necessary information for the evaluation of technical execution and aesthetic quality although observer experience affects the pick-up of this information.     

On‐Line Support and Resources for People Bereaved through Suicide: What Is Available?

The Internet is a potentially valuable source of information for the bereaved, but the current knowledge regarding the type and quality of online material on suicide bereavement is very limited. This study was designed to explore the types of online information and support available for people bereaved by suicide and the quality of such resources. Four popular Internet search engines were searched using terms related to suicide bereavement and support. Although a wide range of Internet resources exist for people bereaved by suicide, these resources may not meet basic quality standards. It is unknown who uses these sites, how such material is used, and whether it helps people to cope effectively with grief after suicide.     

Chaos and Decision Making: Contextual Disorder Reduces Confirmatory Information Processing

When making decisions, individuals tend to systematically prefer information that supports their a priori views over information that conflicts with them. This phenomenon is known as confirmatory information processing. The present research investigated whether contextual disorder—a factor that is typically irrelevant to a given decision case yet can significantly influence decision quality—affects confirmatory information processing. In Study 1, decision makers in untidy environments evinced less confirmatory information processing than decision makers in tidy environments. Study 2 replicated this finding and demonstrated that divergent thinking is an important precondition of the relationship between disorder and confirmatory information processing.     

How internet users find, evaluate, and use online health information: a cross-cultural review.

The Internet has become a favored source to find health information. Worldwide, about 4.5% of all Internet searches are for health-related information. However, research has found that the quality of online health information is mixed, which raises serious concerns about the impact of this information. This paper reviews relevant research to understand how health information on the Internet is retrieved, evaluated, and used. Most users of online health information are looking for information about specific health conditions because they or someone they know was diagnosed with a medical condition. They typically use general search engines to find online health information and enter short phrases, often misspelled. They seldom go beyond the first page of a search. Both their search and evaluation skills are limited although they are concerned about the quality of online health information. They avoid sites with overt commercialism, but often do not pay attention to indicators of credibility. Online health information is used to fill an information void which can enhance coping and self efficacy, affects health-related decisions and behavior of users and their friends and family, and is often discussed with health care providers. There are cross-cultural differences in the types of sites used as well as how online information is used. Based on the research reviewed in this paper, three major recommendations are suggested. Professionals should recommend sites. Professionals should promote more effective search and evaluation techniques. Professionals should be involved in developing and promoting uniform standards for health and mental health sites.     

Stopping rule use during information search in design problems

Information search is critical in most decision-making tasks. An important aspect of information search is the stopping rule used by the decision maker to terminate information acquisition. Decision-making problems may be usefully decomposed into design problems and choice problems. The distinction is critical because the goals of stopping behavior in the two types of problems are quite different. In design problems, the focus is on the sufficiency of information obtained for problem structuring and generating alternatives, while choice problems focus on convergence toward a solution. While previous research has studied stopping behavior in choice problems, the present research is concerned with stopping rule use during information search in design problems. To build theory in this area, we conducted two experiments. In the first, we presented professional systems analysts with an information search problem in a systems development context and asked them to gather information for a proposed system. Protocols of the search sessions were analyzed, and stopping rules used and information gathered by the analysts were identified. Results indicated that the use of certain stopping rules resulted in greater quantity and quality of information gathered. Additionally, stopping rule use, rather than analyst experience, accounted for the quantity and quality of information elicited. Finally, stopping rule use differed between more experienced and less experienced analysts. To apply our findings about stopping rules from the first experiment, we performed a second experiment in which we investigated stopping rule use in a consumer information search task on the world wide web. Results indicated the use of the same stopping rules as in the first experiment, although in different proportions. Implications for information search theory and practice are discussed.     

Different Media for Organizational Communication: Perceptions of Quality and Satisfaction

We examined the satisfaction in and perceived quality of information about one’s job, business unit, and company, as well as perceived quality of urgent news (i.e., news about changes in business and generally considered legally sensitive material), communicated via different media. Results from 598 fulltime employees revealed that rich media (e.g., face-to-face) was most related to satisfaction in information about one’s job and business unit and in perceived quality of information from the supervisor; lean media (e.g., company newsletter) was most related to satisfaction in and quality of information from top management, while moderate media (e.g., e-mail) was only significantly related to perceived quality of urgent news. Trust in top management was positively related to satisfaction in and quality of information shared by management. Lean media most strongly related to quality of urgent news, over and above rich communication.The authors would like to thank Monica Moloney for her support on this project.     

The Secrecy Heuristic: Inferring Quality from Secrecy in Foreign Policy Contexts

Three experiments demonstrate that in the context of U.S. foreign policy decision making, people infer informational quality from secrecy. In Experiment 1, people weighed secret information more heavily than public information when making recommendations about foreign political candidates. In Experiment 2, people judged information presented in documents ostensibly produced by the Department of State and the National Security Council as being of relatively higher quality when those documents were secret rather than public. Finally, in Experiment 3, people judged a National Security Council document as being of higher quality when presented as a secret document rather than a public document and evaluated others' decisions more favorably when those decisions were based on secret information. Discussion centers on the mediators, moderators, and broader implications of this secrecy heuristic in foreign policy contexts.