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An experiment on case-based decision making

Author

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  • Brit Grosskopf
  • Rajiv Sarin
  • Elizabeth Watson

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the disposition of decision makers to use case-based reasoning as suggested by Hume (An enquiry concerning human understanding, 1748 ) and formalized by case-based decision theory (Gilboa and Schmeidler in Q J Econ 110:605–639, 1995 ). Our subjects face a monopoly decision problem about which they have very limited information. Information is presented in a manner which makes similarity judgements according to the feature matching model of Tversky (Psychol Rev 84:327–352, 1977 ) plausible. We provide subjects a “history” of cases. In the $$2\times 2$$ 2 × 2 between-subject design, we vary whether information about the current market is given and whether immediate feedback about obtained profits is provided. The results provide support for the predictions of case-based decision theory, particularly when no immediate feedback is provided. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Brit Grosskopf & Rajiv Sarin & Elizabeth Watson, 2015. "An experiment on case-based decision making," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 79(4), pages 639-666, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:theord:v:79:y:2015:i:4:p:639-666
    DOI: 10.1007/s11238-015-9492-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mengel, Friederike & Sciubba, Emanuela, 2010. "Extrapolation in Games of Coordination and Dominance Solvable Games," Sustainable Development Papers 98475, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    2. Todd Guilfoos & Andreas Duus Pape, 2020. "Estimating Case-Based Learning," Games, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-25, September.
    3. Roxane Bricet, 2018. "Precise versus imprecise datasets: revisiting ambiguity attitudes in the Ellsberg paradox," THEMA Working Papers 2018-08, THEMA (THéorie Economique, Modélisation et Applications), Université de Cergy-Pontoise.
    4. M. Huang & A. D. Pape, 2020. "The Impact of Online Consumer Reviews on Online Sales: The Case-Based Decision Theory Approach," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 463-490, September.
    5. Ilke Aydogan & Yu Gao, 2020. "Experience and rationality under risk: re-examining the impact of sampling experience," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 23(4), pages 1100-1128, December.
    6. Benjamin Radoc & Robert Sugden & Theodore L. Turocy, 2019. "Correlation neglect and case-based decisions," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 23-49, August.
    7. Han Bleichrodt & Martin Filko & Amit Kothiyal & Peter P. Wakker, 2017. "Making Case-Based Decision Theory Directly Observable," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(1), pages 123-151, February.
    8. Benjamin Radoc, 2020. "Bandit with similarity information," Department of Economics, Ateneo de Manila University, Working Paper Series 202002, Department of Economics, Ateneo de Manila University.

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