Multialternative decision field theory: A dynamic connectionist model of decision making

The authors interpret decision field theory (J. R. Busemeyer & J. T. Townse nd, 1993) as a connectionist network and extend it to accommodate multialte rnative preferential choice situations. This article shows that the classic weighted additive utility model (see R. L. Keeney & H. Raiffa, 1976) and t he classic Thurstone preferential choice model (see L. L. Thurstone, 1959) are special cases of this new multialternative decision field theory (MDFT) . which also can emulate the search process of the popular elimination by a spects (EBA) model (see A. Tversky, 1969). The new theory is unique in its ability to explain several central empirical results found in the multialte rnative preference literature with a common set of principles. These empiri cal results include the similarity effect, the attraction effect. and the c ompromise effect, and the complex interactions among these three effects. T he dynamic nature of the model also implies strong testable predictions con cerning the moderating effect of time pressure on these three effects.