Bias-Trigger Manipulation and Task-Form Understanding in Monty Hall

Kim Kaivanto, Eike Kroll and Michael Zabinski ()
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Michael Zabinski: Trinity College Dublin

Economics Bulletin, 2014, vol. 34, issue 1, 89-98

Abstract: Monty Hall is a difficult task which triggers multiple biases. With sophisticated subjects and treatments that reverse and eliminate these triggers, non-rational choice is greatly reduced. Among task-familiar subjects, non-rational choice can can fall to background-error levels. But as our data also show, task-form recognition is necessary but not sufficient for rational choice when the task calls for conditional probability reasoning rather than simple rule-based behavior, as in e.g. 'Switch in Monty Hall.' Task-form understanding, a more stringent requirement, proves to be necessary and sufficient for rational choice in generalized Monty Hall conditional probability reasoning tasks.

Keywords: Monty Hall; task-form understanding; bias triggers; default effect; illusion of control; errors of omission and commission (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C9 D8 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-01-24
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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