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Jon's Masters' Thesis Download

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Want a copy? Here it is. My Masters' Thesis in all of it's glory!

Analyzing preferences for two events generally yields a positive-time bias, such that the most positive event is preferred first. When events are perceived as a sequence, however, a negative-time bias usually appears. Specifically, research on this area suggests that individuals prefer sequences in which each event is an improvement over the previous event. One explanation for this preference is that individuals establish an affective baseline at the beginning of the sequence. Subsequent events are then affectively judged relative to the baseline. Individuals who are more loss averse may be less likely to choose sequences in which many negative events threaten their baseline.
Previous work on risk aversion indicates that strength of handedness, an individual difference variable, may predict the likelihood of an individual choosing the risky option (Christman, Jasper, Sontam & Cooil, 2007). The present study replicated previous sequence preference tasks, using
strength of handedness as a possible predictor of risky choice relative to the adaptation and loss aversion framework proposed. In addition, individuals were asked to choose between pre-determined sequences (the traditional method), or were allowed to determine their own sequence. Results indicated that mixed- and strong-handers prefer increasing sequences (sequences that improve over time) in the traditional sequence paradigm. Additionally, partial evidence exists suggesting that mixed-handers may display a stronger preference for a sequence than strong-handers. In the self-generated paradigm, however, individuals preferred flat or decreasing sequences, with mixed-handers showing a stronger preference. The present study suggests that response methodology affects individuals‟ stated preferences, and that expectations of how future events will occur may affect individuals‟ stated ideal sequences.

Submitted On:

10 Oct 2007

Submitted By:

Jon Westfall (jonw)

File Date:

09 Oct 2007

File Author:

Jon Westfall

File Size:

390.24 Kb

File Type:

pdf

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1

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