The thesis compared the likelihood of taking risks in dyads and individuals in
varying situations. Patterns of risky decision making were examined in the standard risky
choice task and a novel risk management task. The relative successes of two theories of
risky decision making were assessed: Prospect Theory emphasizes perceptual and
psychophysical processes, whereas Security-Potential/Aspiration Level Theory
emphasizes dispositional and motivational processes. The thesis also examined dyads’
decision behavior in light of competing social influence perspectives regarding risky
versus cautious shifts and group polarization.
Participants, as individuals or as part of a dyad, made decisions in 23 trials about
hypothetical two-outcome monetary gambles in one of two different tasks. Risky choice
involved making choices between two given 50-50 lotteries which varied in riskiness
(i.e., outcome variability), whereas risk management required actively manipulating an
existing 50-50 risk by changing outcome values. The 23 trials were equivalent across
tasks. Dyad participants communicated via an instant messenger program, while viewing
the same lotteries on different computers. Data on risk preferences across gain and loss
domains were analyzed using a mixed factorial ANOVA design.
Consistent with Prospect Theory value function predictions, the risky choice task
led to risk averse preferences for gains and risk seeking preferences for losses, though
risk seeking was weak. Consistent with SP/A theory predictions, the risk management
task led to overall risk averse preferences, with movement toward risk taking for gains.
In addition, there was some evidence of social influences in that dyads tended to be more
conservative than individuals in their decision behavior when dealing with undesirable
outcomes. Thus, a cautious shift was observed, but only for lotteries involving
guaranteed losses. This could not be explained by group polarization.
Each of the theories received some support, but none of them could explain all of
the findings. Recommendations were made to give greater attention to defining and
measuring risk attitudes and dispositions, and to continue exploring differences in
decision situations and social settings to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of
risky decision making processes. Findings here suggest the need for an overarching
theory that can account for a wide variety of influences. A dual processes approach was
recommended as one promising avenue. Social and situational influences may prove an
essential part of understanding risky decision making in real life contexts.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USF/oai:scholarcommons.usf.edu:etd-4828 |
| Date | 29 October 2010 |
| Creators | Mukherjee, Moumita |
| Publisher | Scholar Commons |
| Source Sets | University of South Flordia |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Graduate Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | default |
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