Does the utility of information influence sampling behavior?

Doug Markant, Todd M. Gureckis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A critical aspect of human cognition is the ability to actively query the environment for information. One important (but often overlooked) factor in the decision to gather information is the cost associated with accessing different sources of information. Using a simple sequential information search task, we explore the degree to which human learners are sensitive to variations in the amount of utility related to different potential observations. Across two experiments we find greater support for the idea that people gather information to reduce their uncertainty about the current state of the environment (a “disinterested”, or cost-insenstive, sampling strategy). Implications for theories of rational information collection are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationBuilding Bridges Across Cognitive Sciences Around the World - Proceedings of the 34th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2012
EditorsNaomi Miyake, David Peebles, Richard P. Cooper
PublisherThe Cognitive Science Society
Pages719-724
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9780976831884
StatePublished - 2012
Event34th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Building Bridges Across Cognitive Sciences Around the World, CogSci 2012 - Sapporo, Japan
Duration: Aug 1 2012Aug 4 2012

Publication series

NameBuilding Bridges Across Cognitive Sciences Around the World - Proceedings of the 34th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2012

Conference

Conference34th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Building Bridges Across Cognitive Sciences Around the World, CogSci 2012
Country/TerritoryJapan
CitySapporo
Period8/1/128/4/12

Keywords

  • active learning
  • information access costs
  • information sampling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

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