Children Learn Simple, Adaptive Decision Strategies from Probabilistic Feedback

Abstract

ABSTRACT In two studies, children learned simple but adaptive decision strategies from decision feedback. In a probabilistic multi-cue decision task, we investigated children's decision strategies under different feedback conditions. In Study 1 (N = 313), 7- and 9-year-old German children learned the selective decision strategy Take-the-Best. Children learned Take-the-Best equally well in both strict and lenient feedback environments, but worse than adult controls. In Study 2 (N = 246), feedback reinforced either the selective Take-the-Best strategy or the holistic Equal-Weight strategy. Results showed that children adapted to both decision environments. Children used both strategies more or less frequently depending on the feedback structure. Adaptation to the environment favoring Equal-Weight was better overall. This was not because the feedback was more effective, but rather because children, especially the younger ones, tended to use the Equal-Weight strategy even in the absence of feedback. Consistent with this, both studies showed an age effect on strategy use: overall, older children used the selective Take-the-Best strategy more often, while younger children used the holistic Equal-Weight strategy more often. Our results show that feedback can quickly improve decisions and increase the use of adaptive decision strategies in children as young as six years old.