Anchor effects in decision making can be reduced by the interaction between goal monitoring and the level of the decision maker’s executive functions

Models of decision making postulate that interactions between contextual conditions and characteristics of the decision maker determine decision-making performance. We tested this assumption by using a possible positive contextual influence (goals) and a possible negative contextual influence (anchor) in a risky decision-making task (Game of Dice Task, GDT). In this task, making advantageous choices is well known to be closely related to a specific decision maker variable: the individual level of executive functions. One hundred subjects played the GDT in one of four conditions: with self-set goal for final balance (n?=?25), with presentation of an anchor (a fictitious Top 10 list, showing high gains of other participants; n?=?25), with anchor and goal definition (n?=?25), and with neither anchor nor goal setting (n?=?25). Subjects in the conditions with anchor made more risky decisions irrespective of the negative feedback, but this anchor effect was influenced by goal monitoring and moderated by the level of the subjects' executive functions. The findings imply that impacts of situational influences on decision making as they frequently occur in real life depend upon the individual's cognitive abilities. Anchor effects can be overcome by subjects with good cognitive abilities.     

“… the art of shaping a democratic reality and being directed by it …”—philososophy of science in turbulent times

This article has three objectives: First, it revises the history of the reception of Ludwik Fleck??s monograph Entstehung und Entwicklung einer wissenschaftlichen Tatsache (1935, Genesis and Development of a Scientific Fact). Contrary to the established picture, Fleck??s book was largely discussed in the years before the outbreak of World War II. What becomes clear when reading these early reviews and especially Fleck??s comments to those written by representatives of Nazi Germany is, second, the political dimension of his epistemology. In this respect, Fleck??s emphasis on the genuinely democratic character of science will be discussed in some detail. And third, Fleck??s notion of ??Denkstil????thought-style??shall be examined more closely since, as we will claim, it can be understood as a notion indicating where the democratic dimension of science encounters its limits.     

Stottern

Stuttering is a fluency disorder with a point prevalence of approximately 1%. Stuttering begins in childhood and is characterized by frequently occurring breaks in the flow of speaking. These fluency breaks are repetitions of words and syllables, prolongations of sounds and pauses. Many people who stutter show avoidance behaviors, social anxiety, shame and social withdrawal. Empirical studies point to genetic origins of the disorder; however, distinct physical deficits causing stuttering are not yet known. While most children outgrow stuttering before adolescence those who do not typically continue to stutter throughout their life. The severity of stuttering as well as its impact on the quality of life can be reduced by a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and speech-language therapy.     

Preference for upright structure in memory-traces

Summary Rotation in reproduced drawings was investigated as a function of learning and prolonged forgetting (2 1/4 years). One hundred normal persons served as subjects. Using a control situation, a preference for rotating diagonal stimulus lines into upright positions was found. Rotation was most frequent at the first learning trial and disappeared gradually with practice. During forgetting rotation reappeared spontaneously and increased with time distance from learning. There was no significant correlation between rotation observed during learning and forgetting.

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Zusammenfassung In einem Gedächtnisexperiment wurden gezeichnete Reproduktionen auf Rotationseffekte untersucht, und zwar als Funktion des Lernens und prolongierten Vergessens (bis zu 2 1/4 Jahren). Einhundert normale Personen dienten als Versuchspersonen. Mit Hilfe einer Kontrollgruppe wurde eine ausgeprägte Tendenz einer Rotation diagonaler exponierter Reizlinien in aufrecht reproduzierte Linien gefunden. Die Häufigkeit dieser Rotation war bei der ersten Reproduktion am stärksten und verringerte sich zunehmend mit der Übung bis zu ihrer Auslöschung. Während des Vergessens trat der Rotationseffekt spontan wieder auf. Seine Häufigkeit erhöhte sich mit dem zeitlichen Abstand vom Lernexperiment. Es bestand keine bedeutsame Korrelation zwischen der Rotation während des Lernens und des Vergessens.

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The original experiments were conducted in the Institute of Psychology, University of Göttingen, which was then directed by Prof. Johannes von Allesch.