The current thesis presents two experimental studies which are part of larger research project that used a prototype analysis to identify the main characteristics of financial inertia. Using a...Show moreThe current thesis presents two experimental studies which are part of larger research project that used a prototype analysis to identify the main characteristics of financial inertia. Using a bottom-up approach in which lay people were asked which features they associated with being financially inert, the prior studies in the research project had identified central and peripheral features. When a feature of a prototype is more central it is more easily remembered and one is quicker to define it as being prototypical, compared to peripheral features. That is why we used recall and recognition tasks (Study 1) and a classification task (Study 2) as means of validating the previously found features of inertia. In Study 1 participants were shown a list of features, and after a filler task were asked to freely recall features, or were presented with a list of features and asked whether they recognized the features or not. Results showed that participants recalled and recognized central features more often than peripheral ones. In Study 2 participants were presented with a list of items that consisted of central and peripheral features of financial inertia, as well as unrelated control features. Participants were asked to classify each item as being characteristic of financial inertia, or as being unrelated. Central features were more often classified as characteristic of financial inertia than peripheral features, but there was no difference in response time. The control items were correctly and faster classified as being unrelated. Combined, the studies validated the distinction between central and peripheral features of financial inertia.Show less
Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
Up until now, research looking into factors that influence decision-making in anticommons dilemmas has been scant. The current study attempts to fill that void by conducting an experimental...Show moreUp until now, research looking into factors that influence decision-making in anticommons dilemmas has been scant. The current study attempts to fill that void by conducting an experimental investigation of three levels of uncertainty (no vs. low vs. high) regarding buyers' willingness- to-pay (WTP) and how that influences the sellers' willingness-to-accept (WTA) in an anticommons dilemma. Furthermore, this study will investigate if accountability (accountability vs. no accountability) counters the effect of uncertainty. To investigate this, participants (N = 141) will be exposed to all three uncertainty conditions while taking part in a 3-person anticommons game. Additionally, accountability is manipulated by whether or not the participants have to justify their decisions to their fellow group members. As predicted, participants set higher WTA prices under uncertain conditions. However, accountability did not attenuate this effect.Show less
