Statistical Learning in Real-World Environments Leads to Ecologically Rational Decision Making
Talk by Jacob Lund Orquin, Dept. of Management
Info about event
Time
Location
IMC Meeting Room, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 4, Building 1483-312
Organizer
Abstract
Ecological rationality results from matching decision strategies to appropriate environmental structures, but how does the matching happen? We propose that people learn the statistical structure of the environment through observation and use this learned structure to guide ecologically rational behavior. We tested this hypothesis in the context of organic foods. In Study 1, we found that products from healthful food categories are more likely to be organic than products from nonhealthful food categories. In Study 2, we found that consumers’ perceptions of the healthfulness and prevalence of organic products in many food categories are accurate. Finally, in Study 3, we found that people perceive organic products as more healthful than nonorganic products when the statistical structure justifies this inference. Our findings suggest that people believe organic foods are more healthful than nonorganic foods and use an organic-food cue to guide their behavior because organic foods are, on average, 30% more healthful.
The studies are conducted in collaboration with Sonja Perkovic, Centre for Decision Research, University of Leeds.
Link to article: Implicit Statistical Learning in Real-World Environments Leads to Ecologically Rational Decision Making
About the speaker
Jacob Lund Orquin, Professor, Department of Management