Abstract
Several behavioural models of choice assume that decision makers place more weight on attributes where options differ more, an assumption we test in a set of experiments. We find that subjects are more likely to choose an option when we add options increasing the maximal difference in the original option’s strongest attribute, suggesting that the decision maker’s focus is drawn to attributes with a high spread. Additional experiments corroborate this finding. Still, we document that the focusing effect diminishes when options are presented using numbers instead of graphs or when subjects are forced to wait before submitting their answers.
Original language | English |
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Article number | ueab032 |
Peer-reviewed scientific journal | The Economic Journal |
Volume | 131 |
Issue number | 639 |
Pages (from-to) | 2671-2692 |
Number of pages | 22 |
ISSN | 0013-0133 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 16.04.2021 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article - refereed |
Keywords
- 511 Economics
- individual decision making
- focus
- attention
- salience
- decoy
- experiments
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