Reducing the effects of irrelevant information with cognitive feedback

Abstract

This thesis was a study which deals with two basic concepts in human decision making. The first is the role of information relevance, specifically the adverse effects of irrelevant information on decision quality. The second key concept was cognitive feedback and its value for supporting decision making. The thesis was designed to research the effectiveness of cognitive feedback in reducing the adverse effects of irrelevant information. The experiment tested the Lens Model indices: achievement, consistency and matching in task conditions of high and low predictability. Subjects were divided into blocks which differed in the availability of cognitive feedback and predictability conditions. The results of the experiment showed the subjects performed better in all Lens Model indices in the cognitive feedback condition. Subjects also had superior performance across all Lens Model indices in the high predictability condition. This thesis was intended to contribute to the research in the subject of human decision making. the result were of importance in support of future design of decision support systems.