Abstract
The study investigated change in dependency on the environment as a function of increasing familiarity with the situation. 72 students formed 36 dyads which played a complex tactical and negotiations game for 6 one-half hour periods. Over periods, all subjects reduced their use of the environment as a source of influence on their decisions. Cognitively complex subjects reduced their dependency on the environment sooner and more sharply than simple subjects. It was concluded that as a task situation is mastered, decision makers gain the confidence to take a more active role in structuring it. The implications of increased familiarity with a task situation for the shift to risk phenomenon were indicated.
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Research support from the Office of Naval Research, Group Psychology Branch, is gratefully acknowledged.
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Heslin, R., Streufert, S. Task Familiarity and Reliance on the Environment in Decision Making. Psychol Rec 18, 629–637 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393815
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393815