Kahneman and Tversky 1981 Dual System Theory

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

Investigate how framing effects may influence the accessibility of intuitive or rational systems of thinking

Question 2

Participants

Answer 2

307 undergraduate students, Standford University and UBC

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

Completed a hypothetical questionnaire of a disease outbreak and how to fight it

Question 4

Method Condition 1

Answer 4

Ask to choose between a program

1. Certainly save 200 people
2. Might save 600 or none at all

Question 5

Method Condition 2

Answer 5

Program

1. Certainly leave 400 to die
2. Might leave 600 to die or none at all

Question 6

Results

Answer 6

Condition 1= Option 1, certainty of saving lives (risk aversion)
Condition 2=Option 2, certainty that people would die in the first option (risk-seeking)

Question 7

Conclusion

Answer 7

Evidence of Framing effect= made the intuitive thought system more accessible

• Indicates some intuitive judgment may be heavily relied on when problems are framed in terms of certainty
• More certain outcomes overweigh intuitive judgment

Question 8

Strengths

Answer 8

Important application of the role of rational thinking

• IV effectively operationalized by framing effect
• Questionnaire=limited extraneous variables
• Conducted in an ethical manner

Question 9

Limitations

Answer 9

• Argued= too focused on narrow judgement= not wide enough to account for scope of intuitive thinking
• Imaginary disease response= differ from real life response=low ecological validity