Independent Decision Making
Independent Decision Making - Related Videos
05:08
Manipulating an Independent Variable through Embodiment
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2023
Source: Laboratories of Gary Lewandowski, Dave Strohmetz, and Natalie Ciarocco—Monmouth University In any experiment, the researcher attempts to manipulate participants in one group to have different thoughts, experiences, or feelings than the other groups in the study. Some manipulations are overt, while others can be quite subtle. Embodiment is a growing research area focused on the theory that subtle physical experiences can unconsciously influence a person’s thoughts. For example if a...
08:34
Thinking Too Much Impairs Decision-Making
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2023
Source: Peter Mende-Siedlecki & Jay Van Bavel—New York University When we are considering a tough choice between two or more attractive options, we often end up actively weighing the pros and cons of each alternative. By reflecting on their advantages and disadvantages, we attempt to fit a complex, subjective decision into an orderly set of criteria. However, research in psychology suggests that this sort of introspective approach might not always yield the most optimal outcomes.1 In other...
08:22
Decision-making and the Iowa Gambling Task
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2023
Source: Laboratories of Jonas T. Kaplan and Sarah I. Gimbel—University of Southern California Decision-making is an important component of human executive function, in which a choice about a course of action or cognition is made from many possibilities. Damage to the inferior parts of the frontal lobes can affect a person's ability to make good decisions. However, while decision-making deficits can have a large impact on one's life, these deficits can be difficult to quantify in the laboratory.
01:21
Introduction to Test of Independence
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2025
In statistics, the term independence means that one can directly obtain the probability of any event involving both variables by multiplying their individual probabilities. Tests of independence are chi-square tests involving the use of a contingency table of observed (data) values. The test statistic for a test of independence is similar to that of a goodness-of-fit test: where: O = observed values E = expected values (which should be at least 5) A test of independence determines whether...
01:16
Hypothesis Test for Test of Independence
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2023
The test of independence is a chi-square-based test used to determine whether two variables or factors are independent or dependent. This hypothesis test is used to examine the independence of the variables. One can construct two qualitative survey questions or experiments based on the variables in a contingency table. The goal is to see if the two variables are unrelated (independent) or related (dependent). The null and alternative hypotheses for this test are: H0: The two variables (factors)...
FAQs
Reasoning helps a person compare alternatives and anticipate potential outcomes, while self-control supports sustained attention and reduces impulsive responding. These executive functions become especially important when information is incomplete or consequences are difficult to predict. Examining their contribution helps psychologists explain why people may reach different choices even when they face similar options and circumstances.
Emotional regulation helps individuals incorporate feelings without allowing immediate emotional reactions to determine the entire choice. A person can recognize concern, excitement, or frustration while continuing to evaluate goals, information, and possible consequences. This matters because decision research examines how cognitive evaluation and emotional responses interact rather than treating judgment as a purely rational process.
Social influence can redirect attention, preferences, or confidence toward other people’s expectations, while cognitive biases can distort how options and outcomes are evaluated. These forces do not simply replace personal judgment; they shape the context in which it operates. Studying them allows psychologists to distinguish genuine autonomy from choices strongly affected by relationships, pressure, or systematic judgment errors.
Independent choices are closely connected with autonomy because they reflect personal goals and values rather than automatic compliance with external direction. They can also reveal motivation by showing which outcomes a person prioritizes and pursues. Psychological research uses this connection to examine how supportive or controlling environments influence confidence, engagement, and the willingness to act on one’s own judgments.
A process-focused analysis can examine how a person identifies relevant information, compares available options, considers potential outcomes, manages emotional responses, and connects the final choice with personal goals or values. Researchers can then consider the uncertainty and social context surrounding the decision. This approach evaluates the reasoning process, not only whether the eventual outcome appears successful.
Applications include education, counseling, organizational practice, and interventions designed to support confident choices. In education, the focus may involve helping people evaluate options; in counseling, it may involve clarifying goals and values. Organizational and intervention settings can also address how context, relationships, and cognitive biases affect judgment while preserving attention to individual autonomy.