PROBABILITY DISTORTION IN DECISIONS UNDER RISK Cover Image

ZNIEKSZTAŁCANIE PRAWDOPODOBIEŃSTW W DECYZJACH Z RYZYKIEM
PROBABILITY DISTORTION IN DECISIONS UNDER RISK

Author(s): Katarzyna Idzikowska
Subject(s): Economy
Published by: Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego
Keywords: decisions under risk; probability format; subjective judgements; decision weights

Summary/Abstract: This paper presents the results of study on the probability distortion. The distortion is studied at two levels: (i) in the decision maker's�perception (expressed as subjective judgements), and (ii) in the decision maker's choices (expressed in decision weights). The study examined how the two types of distortion – concerning perception and weights – depend on the way information on probability is presented. Two formats of probability information were distinguished: descriptive (expressed in numbers) and experience.�The results confi rmed the hypothesis of lower perceptual distortion of objective probability when the information on payout distribution was presented using the experience-based format than when the information was given as a description. The hypothesis on the lower distortion of probability in decision weights with the experience probability format was not confi rmed. An unexpected result was a lower risk seeking with the experience format. This effect seems to be a result of attributing lower weights than with the descriptive format. Furthermore, it appears that the probability distortion in decision weights at least partly results from the distortion in perception.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 19
  • Page Range: 75-97
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: Polish