Trust Your Gut or Rely on Reason: The role of thinking styles and decision-making under uncertainty

This study investigates the influence of thinking styles on decision-making under uncertainty, focusing on information sampling patterns, confidence and decision accuracy. A sample of 214 participants completed the Rational-Experiential Inventory (REI-10) questionnaire to determine a preference for analytical or intuitive thinking. Participants completed an online information sampling task where they had to determine the color of majority after turning tiles. Participants rated their confidence in each decision. The statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between thinking style and information sampling, nor between thinking style and confidence. Thinking style was not directly related to decision accuracy either, but both confidence and information sampling were associated with better decision-accuracy. Potential limitations of this study include the use of a shortened questionnaire, which may have failed to capture differences between thinking styles or the content...Show moreThis study investigates the influence of thinking styles on decision-making under uncertainty, focusing on information sampling patterns, confidence and decision accuracy. A sample of 214 participants completed the Rational-Experiential Inventory (REI-10) questionnaire to determine a preference for analytical or intuitive thinking. Participants completed an online information sampling task where they had to determine the color of majority after turning tiles. Participants rated their confidence in each decision. The statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between thinking style and information sampling, nor between thinking style and confidence. Thinking style was not directly related to decision accuracy either, but both confidence and information sampling were associated with better decision-accuracy. Potential limitations of this study include the use of a shortened questionnaire, which may have failed to capture differences between thinking styles or the content-neutral nature of the task may not have encouraged participants to engage in their preferred thinking style. Future research should explore task variations, contextual factors and moderating variables. Understanding thinking styles' role in decision-making under uncertainty is valuable for education and professional development.Show less

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Trust Your Gut or Rely on Reason: The role of thinking styles and decision-making under uncertainty