When prior knowledge overrules new evidence: Adaptive use of decision strategies and the role of behavioral routines

This paper focuses on behavioral routines in adaptive decision making. In a n experiment consisting of two phases, participants worked on recurrent, mu ltiattribute choice problems. In the first phase, routines were induced by relying upon the human ability to adapt to situational changes by changing decision strategies. To induce strategy change. time pressure war, varied a s a within factor. Payoffs were manipulated so that an adaptive change in s trategy led participants to maximize choice frequency for one out of three options (routine acquisition). After a one week time lapse, participants wo rked on similar problems, containing the previously preferred routine optio n. In this second phase, payoffs: favored deviation from the routine option . Results showed that choices were almost perfectly calibrated to payoffs u nder low time pressure. However, if time pressure increased, participants w ere more likely to prefer the routine option, even though search strategies were still used adaptively and evidence discouraged routine selection. Res ults are discussed with reference to the model of adaptive decision making (Payne, Bettman & Johnson, 1993), and the MODE model of attitude-behavior r elation (Fazio, 1990).