The Integration of Research in Judgment and Decision Theory

Abstract

Abstract : The five major premises of the Cognitive Continuum Theory of judgment and decision making are described and the potential power of the theory to encompass and to unify the work in the field of judgment and decision making is indicated. Because the theory is anchored in the concepts of intuitive and analytical cognition the recent treatment of these topics is described in terms of (a) the positive view, in which intuitive cognition is praised for its special capabilities to accomplish what analysis cannot, and (b) in terms of the negative view, in which intuitive cognition is denigrated for its failures, 'shortcomings and distortions'; in short, for its inability to accomplish what analysis can. In contrast to both views, the Cognitive Continuum Theory puts forth a 'comprehensive view'; it provides a means for encompassing cognitive tasks, cognitive activities and their behavioral and adaptive consequencies over the full range of cognition. . This leads to the examination of the various properties of the many different cognitive tasks that are encountered by contemporary human beings, as well as examining the properties of the cognitive activities induced by such tasks and the judgment and decision making behavior that follows. Various properties of cognitive tasks are therefore listed, the various properties of cognitive activities that are associated with these task properties are indicated, and predictionsare made regarding the behavior that follows from various cognitive activities.