PSYC 2650 Study Guide - Final Guide: Wason Selection Task

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2650
• Professor: Dan Meegan

Document Summary

Different choices are made among the same alternatives depending on how alternatives are stated or framed . Alternative b: 1/3 probability that all 600 will be saved and a 2/3 probability that no one will be saved. Alternative c: 400 people will die. (same as a) Alternative d: 2/3 probability that everyone will die and a 1/3 probability no one will die. (same as b) Framing in terms of losses makes decision makers tend to be risk seeking in hopes of avoiding. If frame is in terms of gains, decision makes tend to be risk adverse and choose to hold tight to whatever they already have (saves) No right or wrong answer but the way the question is worded changes our decision. What treatment doctor will choose depends on whether treatment is worded in terms of odds of living vs. odds of dying.