Subjective Satisfaction in Choice Scenarios

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Subjective satisfaction and perceived difficulty in decision making were surveyed on a 5-point scale. Two separate groups were tested- the first being a small choice set group and the second being a large choice set group. The hypothesis was that in the small choice set individuals would score higher on satisfaction because of a lesser amount of attractive alternatives. The opposite was thought to be true of the large choice group. 3 groups of 20 were tested. The small and large choice group did not have a significant difference in mean satisfaction while there was a small increase in mean satisfaction in the control group, although not significant, according to the analyses.

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Subjective Satisfaction in Scenarios InvolvingChoice: How The Amount of Choice

Influences Satisfaction

Scott SchneiderMinnesota State University, Moorhead

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation, perceived control, and satisfaction Freedom of choice increase motivation and performance

Smaller amount of choice increases intrinsic and extrinsic motivation Results showed lower choice set yielded higher

subsequent purchasing

Iyengar, S.S. & Lepper, M.R. (2000). When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 995-1006.

Decision Freedom

The influence of choice on behavior and attitudes

Increases as equal choices increase

Greater enhancement of the chosen alternative occurs as choice set expands

Steiner, I.D. Percieved freedom. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 1970, 5, 187-248

Perceived Difficulty

Perception of how easy a specific behavior would be to perform

“For me to engage in behavior, x would be easy/difficult”

W. M. Rodgers, M. Conner. Distinguishing among perceived control, perceived difficulty, and self-efficacy as determinants of intentions and behaviors. British Journal of Social Psychology (2008), 47, 607–630

Perceived Self-Efficacy

The estimate of one’s confidence to execute a well-defined set of behaviors What one can do with what one has in a situation Leads to an overall satisfaction corresponding to behavior

W. M. Rodgers, M. Conner. Distinguishing among perceived control, perceived difficulty, and self-efficacy as determinants of intentions and behaviors. British Journal of Social Psychology (2008), 47, 607–630

Choice and Individual Welfare

Dense assortments yield value judgment

Confronting many choices can be overwhelming in large choice sets

Buyers are often less satisfied and less confident with their decision

Regret can occur, especially when benefits fail to arise

Iyengar, S.S. & Lepper, M.R. (2000). When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 995-1006.

Choice and Individual Welfare

Too large of a set size may lead individuals to abandon decision-making process

Conflict Theory Default option is often chosen when alternatives or trade-offs

are unknown

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. Science, 1124–1131. Web.

Greenleaf, Eric & Don Lehmann. (1995). Reasons for substantial delay in consumer decision making. Journal of Consumer

Research 22, 186-189. Web.

Hypotheses

Subjective satisfaction will differ between the size of choice sets in a consumer scenario

Small choice set: Higher subjective satisfaction

Large choice set: Lower subjective satisfaction

Design

60 MSUM psychology students

Random assignment to conditions 0 choice control 6 choice set 12 choice set

Between-Subjects Design

Design

Condition 0 Control condition- 1 option Rating Subjective satisfaction

Condition 1 6 choice condition Rating Subjective satisfaction

Condition 2 12 choice condition Rating Subjective satisfaction

Design

Materials Informed Consent Demographic Survey Stimuli Subjective satisfaction questionnaire post test

Participants

16 male participants (26.7%)

44 female participants (73.3%)

Age range: 18-55 (M=20.78, SD=5.59)

Subjective Satisfaction Inventory

9 question inventory based on a 5-point Likert scale

Measures: The Maximization Inventory (Turner, et al) Maximization Scale (Lai, et al)

Results

Control Condition: (N=21), (M=4.32, SD=0.69)

6 Choice Condition: (N=19), (M=4.52, SD=0.44)

12 Choice Condition: (N=20), (M=4.61, SD=0.42)

Control 6 Choice 12 Choice3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

Satisfaction

Condition

Overa

ll S

ati

sfa

cti

on

Discussion

Explored at what point choice satisfaction begins to increase/decrease

12 choice should illicit lower satisfaction and 6 choice should illicit higher satisfaction

Hypothesis was not supported by data

Previous Research

(Iyengar & Lepper, 2000) state subjective satisfaction levels are dependent upon the set size of choices

(Greenleaf & Lehmann, 1995) find lower satisfaction levels in large choice sets and possibly abandonment of process

(Rottenstreich & Sood, 1999) state “choice overload” can lower perceptions of attractiveness as set size and time increases

(Carmon & Ziv, 2003) find that large choice sets may inhibit question of competency of making sound decisions This may result in a lower sense of satisfaction if the individual

completes the decision-making process

Implications

Mean scores did not differ by more than 1 point across all three conditions Set size Obligation

Random or otherwise

Questionnaires

9 questions total on a self-created scale

Reliable inventories and scales

Future Direction

Physicality of stimuli

Alternative stimuli

Advertising Small set vs. large set

Marketing settings and buyer scenarios

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