2024/07/01 by Cristina Mendonça, André Mata, Mário B. Ferreira · 1 voice
Decision Sciences · Social Sciences · #Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics #Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
paper · doi:10.1027/1864-9335/a000559
openalex publication_date 2024/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26
Abstract: When faced with a choice between two ratios, some people prefer the option with the larger numerator instead of the larger ratio. In this study, participants read texts containing two options involving ratios, indicated their preference between those options, and recalled the texts. Using the serial reproduction method, the recall protocols were then given to other participants to read, judge, and recall. Results show that some people’s representations of the problem are distorted, favoring the option with the largest numerator; these distortions are associated with increased ratio bias and are amplified as information is socially transmitted. Finally, this social amplification progressively increases the ratio bias. These results show how small biases can grow larger when information is socially transmitted.