Strategies of information search in causal analysis

摘要: Five experiments investigated the relative prevalence of three search patterns that individuals may use in explaining events with multiple possible causes: (1) parallel search—pursue information about all causes before making any causal judgments, (2) serial search—clarify role one cause considering others, (3) truncated without proceeding to consider other causes. In Experiments 1, 2, and 3, subjects were told an event, two or nonexclusive a fact implicating suggested as influencing event. Subjects asked for question whose answer would help them most each experiment, preferred clarify implicated cause, pattern congruent both strategies. Results fourth experiment indicated these preferences reflect rather than search. A final demonstrated preference persists even opportunity more extended