Abstract
Decision speed was studied as a function of value preference determined by a subjective and a measured ranking of the six value areas of the Allport-Vernon-Lindzey Study of Values (AVL). Ss were sequentially presented with a list of 180 value-related words and were required to categorize each word into one of the six AVL value areas by pressing one of six decision levers. The latency between each stimulus presentation and the decision response was measured without Ss knowledge. Decision speed was significantly influenced by practice and personal value preference. For each method of determining value rank, an inventory (AVL profile) and a subjective (introspective ranking) technique, the relationship between speed and value rank was generally U-shaped (i.e., words representing the most and least preferred value areas were categorized fastest).
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This research was facilitated by college gift equipment contributed by Western Electric Company and the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company. Thanks are due to Joseph E. Oren. Peter F. Steigerwalt. and Ned G. Paulson for their special assistance.
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Geller, E.S., Whitman, C.P. & Beamon, W.S. Effects of expressed and measured value preference on decision speed. Psychon Sci 24, 84–86 (1971). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337904
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337904