Fast, frugal and correct? An experimental study on the influence of time scarcity and quantity of information on the voter decision making process
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14230%2F18%3A00103241" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14230/18:00103241 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11127-018-0587-4" target="_blank" >http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11127-018-0587-4</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11127-018-0587-4" target="_blank" >10.1007/s11127-018-0587-4</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Fast, frugal and correct? An experimental study on the influence of time scarcity and quantity of information on the voter decision making process
Original language description
Classical theories of political representation claim that high levels of political knowledge and awareness across the electorate are crucial for a well-functioning democracy. In real life, though, the actual amount of political information possessed by voters is small and unevenly distributed. In addition, electoral decision making is complex and often characterized by severe time pressure. This study therefore experimentally tests the theoretical framework of “fast and frugal” voters and the “less-is-more effect” (Gigerenzer and Goldstein in Psychol Rev 103(4):650–669, 1996), which expects that in some instances low levels of political knowledge may actually result in equally good or even better outcomes than in the case of well-informed decisions. It is hence assumed that employing specific cognitive shortcuts can help voters make good and quick decisions, even with a lack of information. We have used a laboratory experiment to create an environment characterized by severe time pressure that allowed for only shallow information search and limited comparisons across alternatives. Subjects were able to base their decisions only on a small number of criteria operationalized by candidates’ positions on current political issues with various levels of perceived salience. Voters appear to simplify decision making by focusing mainly on those policy attitudes they consider important. Consequently, it seems that shifting the decision-making strategy from accuracy to efficiency has no effect on the final outcome.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
50601 - Political science
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach
Others
Publication year
2018
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Public Choice
ISSN
0048-5829
e-ISSN
1573-7101
Volume of the periodical
177
Issue of the periodical within the volume
1-2
Country of publishing house
NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
Number of pages
20
Pages from-to
67-86
UT code for WoS article
000443437100004
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85049579898