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The cognitive structure of choice dilemma decisions
Author(s) -
Witte Erich H.,
Arez Antonio J.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
european journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1099-0992
pISSN - 0046-2772
DOI - 10.1002/ejsp.2420040304
Subject(s) - dilemma , psychology , reputation , cognition , social psychology , similarity (geometry) , variance (accounting) , product (mathematics) , field (mathematics) , economics , mathematics , computer science , artificial intelligence , social science , geometry , accounting , neuroscience , sociology , pure mathematics , image (mathematics)
We tried to find out why Ss chose a specific risk level. We, therefore, constructed a questionnaire with 30 statements about aspects of the contents of the choice dilemmas. A factor analysis of the 30 statements over ten choice dilemmas and 61 field‐officers led to a structure of four cognitive elements. With these four factors as predictors we could explain a main part of the variance of the individual risk level of each choice dilemma. This regression analysis was done with normal product‐moment‐correlations and with scalar‐products. Both analyses show great similarity, although it seemed to be better to use scalar‐products because one can use the information of the means. The four cognitive elements could be interpreted as: (1) Decision‐making strategy; (2) Responsibility for others; (3) Reputation; (4) Socially valued riskiness.