An experimental analysis of bounded rationality: Applying insights from behavioral economics to information systems

Franziska Brecht, Oliver Günther, Werner Güth () and Ksenia Koroleva

No 2011-065, Jena Economics Research Papers from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Abstract: The paradigm of bounded rationality considers the limited ability of individuals to make consistent and rational choices. Due to the scarcity of research on this phenomenon in information systems, we conducted an experimental study investigating decision-making regarding risk preferences and social preferences. Moreover, we explored the stability of these preferences under different conditions and uncovered the role of information retrieval in individual decision-making. We find that although individuals are generally risk-averse and egoistic, none of these preferences is stable under the conditions tested which provides indices of boundedly rational decision-making. Although the information retrieved by participants generally allows to infer their preferences, the increasing amount and complexity of this information again often results in boundedly rational behavior.

Keywords: bounded rationality; experimental design; information retrieval; stability of attitudes and behavior; cognitive tracing; behavioral economics; behavioral information systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C18 C91 D03 D81 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-01-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-evo, nep-exp and nep-upt
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