IIndividual differences in information search and hypothesis testing
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Gore, Jacqueline O.
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Abstract
This study aims to expand on the current understanding of how search termination behavior is influenced via metacognition and individual differences. The underlying assumption that strength of beliefs guide information search suggests that metacognitive assessments should be predictive of search termination behavior. Little work has investigated the influence of explicit self-assessment in behavioral decision-making tasks. My study will evaluate the influence of metacognition and individual differences on both learning and search termination using the Medical Diagnosis Game used in previous research. I hypothesize that metacognitive assessments in the form of judgments of knowing will predict stopping behavior. I will be measuring the following individual differences: shapebuilder (working memory capacity), RAVEN progressive matrices (fluid intelligence), neuroticism, decisiveness, and a cognitive reflections assessment. I hypothesize that working memory span, cognitive reflections, and fluid intelligence predict learning, hypothesis generation, quality of test selection and calibration of stopping decisions. My exploratory hypothesis is that neuroticism will show association to metacognitive assessments and test selection. Past research supports the idea that participants high in decisiveness terminate internal memory search earlier than those low in decisiveness. I hypothesize that the decisiveness scale will predict search termination in external information search in the MDG in the same manner as it does for internal search . The computational architecture HyGene will be used in my study to model participant decision-processes as an updating belief system during hypothesis testing. HyGene can capture how memory representations change in response to metacognitive monitoring to affect hypothesis generation, test preference, metacognitive assessment. The computational account will have parameters capable of capturing the hypothesized JoK and search termination relation, including the influence of the individual differences that may moderate behavior.
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Undergraduate Research Option Thesis