Boredom-Induced Changes in Preferences among Bets

Abstract

This paper examines a methodological dilemma of research on preferences among bets. As a by-product, it validates a single-stimulus method for studying such preferences called the bidding method, which is far more efficient than the customary method of paired comparisons. The dilemma is this: Ss who are highly motivated to make careful choices use complex, frequently shifting strategies and so produce data which appear inconsistent, variable, and disorderly. Bored, unmotivated Ss adopt simple, easy-to-discover strategies, and change them seldom. Those Ss who play a high proportion of their choices, who are run individually, and who are not required to make too many choices per session tend to be highly motivated; Ss required to make rapid, imaginary choices in large group, experimental sessions tend to be bored. The dilemma and the effects of the two ways of resolving it are illustrated by comparing the imaginary group choice experiment of Coombs and Pruitt with the real-gambling experiments of Edwards.' Comparison of procedures and of findings concerning consistency, transitivity, choice of independent variables, and single-peakedness specifies the setting and hypotheses underlying this paper.