Superstitious Behavior and Response Stereotypy Prevent the Emergence of Efficient Rule-Governed Behavior in Humans

Effects of random outcomes on choice behavior

Decision-making researchers have shown that making optimal decisions is aided by the detection of information salient to the task. When the task involves random events, humans tend to perceive these events as contingent. In this study, outcomes were grouped together with choices to identify some of the conditions under which random events are correctly perceived. Of the two groups (ns=40) only one was provided information regarding the relationship between choice and outcome. This provision did not improve the detection of the relationship between random events any more than direct contact with the underlying contingencies. Findings are discussed in terms of experiential contact with and sensitivity to underlying contingency.