1. Making Decisions

2. How can we research decision making?

3. Making Decisions Decisions can be very diverse E.g. Palestine/Israel What to have for breakfast Whether to work or play

4. Operationalise Need to measure our decisions Reduce to ODDS Set of scenarios Choice between safe and risky

5. Example Friday night, Could sit and watch tv (safe) Or go to a show (risky)

6. Going to a show Haven’t got a ticket It’s raining What determines what I will do? If performer is fabulous or is mundane

7. Going to a show If fabulous will take risk Even if 1 in 10 getting a ticket is worth the risk If mundane, then TV looks better Maybe odds need to be 8 in 10 (or 10 in 10)

8. Odds By using odds can compare Note that the lower the odds, the more risk you are accepting, because you find the alternative choice attractive High odds mean safe option is as good or better than alternative

9. Begin research Hand out scenarios now

10. Work in groups You need to work in groups Appoint a timekeeper - 5 mins a scenario then move on Must reach an agreed outcome for each scenario - do this by argument and discussion Record each outcome scenario 1 - $ out of 10 scenario 2 - £ out of 10 etc

11. analysis Calculate the following ScenarioAverage individuals Group decision 1.6.45 23.27 3. etc……… Hand in copy of these results to lecturer

12. Individual and Group Decision Making

13. Learning Outcomes 1 Take part in social psych research Discuss the possible causes of group polarisation. Describe the concept of group polarisation. Calculate mean scores and explain what they represent.

14. Why do we rely on groups? More sources of information Less work more expertise re-evaluation and error checking reduction of bias/prejudice explicit decision criteria

15. Psychological Impact More likely to adhere to a decision you have been involved in Diffusion of responsibility allows major decisions to be made Advantages for social loafers

16. Results What happens to individual views when groups make a decision? Risky shift

17. Explanations of Group Polarisation Persuasive Arguments Theory (Kaplan & Miller 1983) Social Comparison Theory (Festinger 1954) Social Decision Scheme Theory (Davies 1982)