Decision Making for Risk Management: A Comparison of Graphical Methods for Presenting Quantitative Uncertainty |
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Authors: | John A Edwards Frank J Snyder Pamela M Allen Kevin A Makinson David M Hamby |
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Institution: | 1
Department of Psychology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
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2
School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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3
Department of Human Development and Family Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
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4
Department of Radiation and Health Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. |
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Abstract: | Previous research has shown that people err when making decisions aided by probability information. Surprisingly, there has been little exploration into the accuracy of decisions made based on many commonly used probabilistic display methods. Two experiments examined the ability of a comprehensive set of such methods to effectively communicate critical information to a decision maker and influence confidence in decision making. The second experiment investigated the performance of these methods under time pressure, a situational factor known to exacerbate judgmental errors. Ten commonly used graphical display methods were randomly assigned to participants. Across eight scenarios in which a probabilistic outcome was described, participants were asked questions regarding graph interpretation (e.g., mean) and made behavioral choices (i.e., act; do not act) based on the provided information indicated that decision‐maker accuracy differed by graphical method; error bars and boxplots led to greatest mean estimation and behavioral choice accuracy whereas complementary cumulative probability distribution functions were associated with the highest probability estimation accuracy. Under time pressure, participant performance decreased when making behavioral choices. |
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Keywords: | Decision making graphical communication probability risk management uncertainty |
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