INFORMATION DISPLAYS AND DECISION PROCESSES

Information displays influence decision processes by facilitating some decision strategies while hindering others. Component characteristics of displays, such as the form, organization, and sequence of information, influence decision processes through an adaptive mechanism whereby a decision maker balances the desire to maximize accuracy against the desire to minimize effort. Variations in the information display lead to changes in the anticipated effort and anticipated accuracy of each available strategy and, therefore, provide an incentive for decision makers to use different decision processes. Research in this area can provide guidance regarding the use of displays and other decision-aiding approaches.