Research article summary (published 29 Sep 2009):

Doomed to repeat the successes of the past: history is best forgotten for repeated choices with nonstationary payoffs.

Full Abstract

Many everyday tasks involve repeated choices in which past outcomes are used to estimate payoffs but in which present payoffs may differ from past ones. Two experiments with 10 decision problems employing the decisions-from-feedback paradigm examined the choice between two risky options, wherein the payoff probabilities for one option could change over a sequence of trials. Participants either saw the outcomes associated with each option, or additionally were given a "history" summarizing the outcomes of previous trials. Participants adapted quickly to new problems, but adapted slowly to payoff changes. Providing a history improved initial choices, but had a null or negative impact on later ones-although, appropriately, the summary received less weight in later trials. An associative choice model captured changes in preference, but not initial patterns of choice. The findings emphasize the adaptive value of forgetting in unstable decision environments, but illustrate how providing additional relevant information may hinder this.

Author information

Author/s: Rakow, Tim (T); Miler, Katherine (K);

Affiliation: University of Essex, Colchester, England. timrakow(-atsign-)essex.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Memory & cognition (Mem Cognit), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 37 (issue 7) : pp 985-1000

Dates: Created 2009/09/11; Completed 2009/11/02;

PMID: 19744938, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/2/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Choice Behavior Decision Making Extinction, Psychological Feedback, Psychological Female Gambling - psychology

Humans Male Mental Recall Motivation Probability Learning Risk-Taking Young Adult

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