Abstract The seven papers in this special issue represent the breadth and complexity of approache... more Abstract The seven papers in this special issue represent the breadth and complexity of approaches to the study of affect in judgment and decision processes. Four papers examine the role of arousal or specific emotions in decision making. The three other papers investigate the impacts of uncertainty, time course, and thinking about mood.
Abstract Older adults constitute a rapidly growing demographic segment, but stereotypes persist a... more Abstract Older adults constitute a rapidly growing demographic segment, but stereotypes persist about their consumer behavior. The goal of this review was to develop a more considered understanding of age-associated changes in consumer decision making. Our theoretical model suggests that age-associated changes in cognition, affect, and goals interact to make older consumers' decision-making processes, brand choices, and habits different from those of younger adults.
Abstract Background In this commentary, I review a key theme���the construction of preferences���... more Abstract Background In this commentary, I review a key theme���the construction of preferences���that underlies the psychology of judgment and decision making and may influence eating behaviors. Its central idea is that, in many situations, we do not know what we prefer and, as a result, we construct our preferences ���on the spot��� based on internal and external cues available at the moment.
Abstract We investigated whether the type of data display (bar chart, pie chart, or table) or add... more Abstract We investigated whether the type of data display (bar chart, pie chart, or table) or adding a gratuitous third dimension (shading to give the illusion of depth) affects the accuracy of answers of questions about the data. We conducted a randomized experiment with 897 members of the American Life Panel, a nationally representative US web survey panel.
Abstract Donation requests often convey numerical information about the people in need. In two st... more Abstract Donation requests often convey numerical information about the people in need. In two studies we investigated the effects of numeracy and presentation format on the underlying affective and cognitive mechanisms of donation decisions. In Study 1, participants were presented with information about a victim in need, either in a frequency format or in a percentage format. In Study 2, we manipulated the identifiability and number of target victims.
Seeming public apathy over climate change is often attributed to a deficit in comprehension. The ... more Seeming public apathy over climate change is often attributed to a deficit in comprehension. The public knows too little science, it is claimed, to understand the evidence or avoid being misled 1. Widespread limits on technical reasoning aggravate the problem by forcing citizens to use unreliable cognitive heuristics to assess risk 2. We conducted a study to test this account and found no support for it.
Background Recent changes in the Medicare program increase the potential health plan options avai... more Background Recent changes in the Medicare program increase the potential health plan options available to Medicare beneficiaries. Along with the expanded choices, there is also an unprecedented effort by federal agencies, health providers, advocates, and others to inform older Americans about their health options. Most of Medicare's 39 million beneficiaries receive a detailed booklet annually describing the choices.
What explains controversy over outpatient commitment laws (OCLs), which authorize courts to order... more What explains controversy over outpatient commitment laws (OCLs), which authorize courts to order persons with mental illness to accept outpatient treatment? We hypothesized that attitudes toward OCLs reflect ���cultural cognition���(DiMaggio, P. Annl Rev Sociol 23: 263���287, 1997), which motivates individuals to conform their beliefs about policy-relevant facts to their cultural values.
Abstract Numeracy���that is, how facile people are with mathematical concepts and their applicati... more Abstract Numeracy���that is, how facile people are with mathematical concepts and their applications���is gaining importance in medical decision making and risk communication. This article proposes six critical functions of health numeracy. These functions are integrated into a theoretical framework on health numeracy that has implications for risk communication and medical decision-making processes.
Abstract Age differences in affective/experiential and deliberative processes have important theo... more Abstract Age differences in affective/experiential and deliberative processes have important theoretical implications for cancer decision making as cancer is often a disease of older adulthood. We examine evidence for adult age differences in affective and deliberative information processes, review the sparse evidence about age differences in decision making and introduce how dual process theories and their findings might be applied to cancer decision making.
Abstract Much effort has been put into improving measures of health care quality. Although early ... more Abstract Much effort has been put into improving measures of health care quality. Although early research suggested that consumers made little use of quality reports, most reports were based on nonstandardized measures and were not user friendly. Information presentation approaches, however, will have a significant influence on what information is attended and used. The present research examines whether information presentation methods differentially influence consumers who differ in numeric skills.
Abstract Using five variants of the Asian Disease Problem, we dissected the risky-choice framing ... more Abstract Using five variants of the Asian Disease Problem, we dissected the risky-choice framing effect by requiring each participant to provide preference ratings for the full decision problem and also to provide attractiveness ratings for each of the component parts, ie, the sure-thing option and the risky option. Consistent with previous research, more risky choices were made by respondents receiving negatively framed versions of the decision problems than by those receiving positively framed versions.
Objective Studies have shown that increasing patient participation in decision making decreases u... more Objective Studies have shown that increasing patient participation in decision making decreases utilization of risky procedures. It has been demonstrated that risk perception is increased under conditions that emphasize volition, or the act of choosing. The objective of this study was to examine whether emphasizing volition increases patients' risk perception and decreases their willingness to accept risk.
The rate of initiation and progression to dependence and premature mortality are higher for tobac... more The rate of initiation and progression to dependence and premature mortality are higher for tobacco products than for any other dependence producing substance. This is not explained simply by the addictiveness (���abuse liability���) or by enticing product designs (���product appeal���) alone, but rather by both of these factors in combination with marketing and social influences that also influence ���product appeal���.
Abstract Nisbett, Zukier, and Lemley presented evidence for a ���dilution effect,��� in which inf... more Abstract Nisbett, Zukier, and Lemley presented evidence for a ���dilution effect,��� in which information nonpredictive of a stimulus person's behavior ���watered down��� or diluted the predictive value of categorical information diagnostic of that behavior. Two experiments suggest, however, that nondiagnostic information influences prediction by altering the perceived goodness of fit between the stimulus person and the diagnostic category. The authors conclude that (a) Nisbett et al.
Abstract Current health care policy emphasizes improving health outcomes and the efficacy of heal... more Abstract Current health care policy emphasizes improving health outcomes and the efficacy of health care delivery by supporting informed consumer choices. At the same time, health information often involves uncertainty, and many people may lack the skills and knowledge to process this information, manage their health and health care, and make informed choices. Innumeracy, an element of poor health literacy, is associated with the comprehension and use of important health information.
The problems and challenges of aging have long been an important societal concern. Accompanying t... more The problems and challenges of aging have long been an important societal concern. Accompanying the physical changes of aging are psychological changes that have critical implications for the quality of life that people experience. Equally critical may be the fact that, as people age, their opportunities to recover or compensate for poor-quality judgments and decisions diminish. For example, poor financial decisions early in life may be remedied by learning from mistakes and making better decisions in the future.
Abstract Higher education (or more years of formal schooling) is widely associated with better he... more Abstract Higher education (or more years of formal schooling) is widely associated with better health, but the underlying causes of this association are unclear. In this study, we tested our schooling-decision-making model, which posits that formal education fosters intellectual ability, which in turn provides individuals with enduring competencies to support better health-related behaviors.
Background. Eliciting patients' preferences within a framework of shared decision making (SDM) ha... more Background. Eliciting patients' preferences within a framework of shared decision making (SDM) has been advocated as a strategy for increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening adherence. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of a novel decision aid on SDM in the primary care setting. Methods. An interactive, computer-based decision aid for CRC screening was developed and evaluated within the context of a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND: Physicians must frequently inform their patients of the risks of rare, but serious, a... more BACKGROUND: Physicians must frequently inform their patients of the risks of rare, but serious, adverse events (AEs). OBJECTIVE: To examine how patients react to the disclosure of rare AEs. METHODS: Outpatients viewed a video of a physician describing a medication associated with a rare AE. Subjects then rated their worry, perceived chance of developing the AE, and willingness to take the medication.
Abstract The seven papers in this special issue represent the breadth and complexity of approache... more Abstract The seven papers in this special issue represent the breadth and complexity of approaches to the study of affect in judgment and decision processes. Four papers examine the role of arousal or specific emotions in decision making. The three other papers investigate the impacts of uncertainty, time course, and thinking about mood.
Abstract Older adults constitute a rapidly growing demographic segment, but stereotypes persist a... more Abstract Older adults constitute a rapidly growing demographic segment, but stereotypes persist about their consumer behavior. The goal of this review was to develop a more considered understanding of age-associated changes in consumer decision making. Our theoretical model suggests that age-associated changes in cognition, affect, and goals interact to make older consumers' decision-making processes, brand choices, and habits different from those of younger adults.
Abstract Background In this commentary, I review a key theme���the construction of preferences���... more Abstract Background In this commentary, I review a key theme���the construction of preferences���that underlies the psychology of judgment and decision making and may influence eating behaviors. Its central idea is that, in many situations, we do not know what we prefer and, as a result, we construct our preferences ���on the spot��� based on internal and external cues available at the moment.
Abstract We investigated whether the type of data display (bar chart, pie chart, or table) or add... more Abstract We investigated whether the type of data display (bar chart, pie chart, or table) or adding a gratuitous third dimension (shading to give the illusion of depth) affects the accuracy of answers of questions about the data. We conducted a randomized experiment with 897 members of the American Life Panel, a nationally representative US web survey panel.
Abstract Donation requests often convey numerical information about the people in need. In two st... more Abstract Donation requests often convey numerical information about the people in need. In two studies we investigated the effects of numeracy and presentation format on the underlying affective and cognitive mechanisms of donation decisions. In Study 1, participants were presented with information about a victim in need, either in a frequency format or in a percentage format. In Study 2, we manipulated the identifiability and number of target victims.
Seeming public apathy over climate change is often attributed to a deficit in comprehension. The ... more Seeming public apathy over climate change is often attributed to a deficit in comprehension. The public knows too little science, it is claimed, to understand the evidence or avoid being misled 1. Widespread limits on technical reasoning aggravate the problem by forcing citizens to use unreliable cognitive heuristics to assess risk 2. We conducted a study to test this account and found no support for it.
Background Recent changes in the Medicare program increase the potential health plan options avai... more Background Recent changes in the Medicare program increase the potential health plan options available to Medicare beneficiaries. Along with the expanded choices, there is also an unprecedented effort by federal agencies, health providers, advocates, and others to inform older Americans about their health options. Most of Medicare's 39 million beneficiaries receive a detailed booklet annually describing the choices.
What explains controversy over outpatient commitment laws (OCLs), which authorize courts to order... more What explains controversy over outpatient commitment laws (OCLs), which authorize courts to order persons with mental illness to accept outpatient treatment? We hypothesized that attitudes toward OCLs reflect ���cultural cognition���(DiMaggio, P. Annl Rev Sociol 23: 263���287, 1997), which motivates individuals to conform their beliefs about policy-relevant facts to their cultural values.
Abstract Numeracy���that is, how facile people are with mathematical concepts and their applicati... more Abstract Numeracy���that is, how facile people are with mathematical concepts and their applications���is gaining importance in medical decision making and risk communication. This article proposes six critical functions of health numeracy. These functions are integrated into a theoretical framework on health numeracy that has implications for risk communication and medical decision-making processes.
Abstract Age differences in affective/experiential and deliberative processes have important theo... more Abstract Age differences in affective/experiential and deliberative processes have important theoretical implications for cancer decision making as cancer is often a disease of older adulthood. We examine evidence for adult age differences in affective and deliberative information processes, review the sparse evidence about age differences in decision making and introduce how dual process theories and their findings might be applied to cancer decision making.
Abstract Much effort has been put into improving measures of health care quality. Although early ... more Abstract Much effort has been put into improving measures of health care quality. Although early research suggested that consumers made little use of quality reports, most reports were based on nonstandardized measures and were not user friendly. Information presentation approaches, however, will have a significant influence on what information is attended and used. The present research examines whether information presentation methods differentially influence consumers who differ in numeric skills.
Abstract Using five variants of the Asian Disease Problem, we dissected the risky-choice framing ... more Abstract Using five variants of the Asian Disease Problem, we dissected the risky-choice framing effect by requiring each participant to provide preference ratings for the full decision problem and also to provide attractiveness ratings for each of the component parts, ie, the sure-thing option and the risky option. Consistent with previous research, more risky choices were made by respondents receiving negatively framed versions of the decision problems than by those receiving positively framed versions.
Objective Studies have shown that increasing patient participation in decision making decreases u... more Objective Studies have shown that increasing patient participation in decision making decreases utilization of risky procedures. It has been demonstrated that risk perception is increased under conditions that emphasize volition, or the act of choosing. The objective of this study was to examine whether emphasizing volition increases patients' risk perception and decreases their willingness to accept risk.
The rate of initiation and progression to dependence and premature mortality are higher for tobac... more The rate of initiation and progression to dependence and premature mortality are higher for tobacco products than for any other dependence producing substance. This is not explained simply by the addictiveness (���abuse liability���) or by enticing product designs (���product appeal���) alone, but rather by both of these factors in combination with marketing and social influences that also influence ���product appeal���.
Abstract Nisbett, Zukier, and Lemley presented evidence for a ���dilution effect,��� in which inf... more Abstract Nisbett, Zukier, and Lemley presented evidence for a ���dilution effect,��� in which information nonpredictive of a stimulus person's behavior ���watered down��� or diluted the predictive value of categorical information diagnostic of that behavior. Two experiments suggest, however, that nondiagnostic information influences prediction by altering the perceived goodness of fit between the stimulus person and the diagnostic category. The authors conclude that (a) Nisbett et al.
Abstract Current health care policy emphasizes improving health outcomes and the efficacy of heal... more Abstract Current health care policy emphasizes improving health outcomes and the efficacy of health care delivery by supporting informed consumer choices. At the same time, health information often involves uncertainty, and many people may lack the skills and knowledge to process this information, manage their health and health care, and make informed choices. Innumeracy, an element of poor health literacy, is associated with the comprehension and use of important health information.
The problems and challenges of aging have long been an important societal concern. Accompanying t... more The problems and challenges of aging have long been an important societal concern. Accompanying the physical changes of aging are psychological changes that have critical implications for the quality of life that people experience. Equally critical may be the fact that, as people age, their opportunities to recover or compensate for poor-quality judgments and decisions diminish. For example, poor financial decisions early in life may be remedied by learning from mistakes and making better decisions in the future.
Abstract Higher education (or more years of formal schooling) is widely associated with better he... more Abstract Higher education (or more years of formal schooling) is widely associated with better health, but the underlying causes of this association are unclear. In this study, we tested our schooling-decision-making model, which posits that formal education fosters intellectual ability, which in turn provides individuals with enduring competencies to support better health-related behaviors.
Background. Eliciting patients' preferences within a framework of shared decision making (SDM) ha... more Background. Eliciting patients' preferences within a framework of shared decision making (SDM) has been advocated as a strategy for increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening adherence. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of a novel decision aid on SDM in the primary care setting. Methods. An interactive, computer-based decision aid for CRC screening was developed and evaluated within the context of a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND: Physicians must frequently inform their patients of the risks of rare, but serious, a... more BACKGROUND: Physicians must frequently inform their patients of the risks of rare, but serious, adverse events (AEs). OBJECTIVE: To examine how patients react to the disclosure of rare AEs. METHODS: Outpatients viewed a video of a physician describing a medication associated with a rare AE. Subjects then rated their worry, perceived chance of developing the AE, and willingness to take the medication.
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Papers by Ellen Peters