Decision making

Title: The Effect of Time Pressure on Decision Making

Introduction:
Decision making is a complex cognitive process influenced by various factors, including time
pressure. Previous research suggests that time pressure can both facilitate and hinder decision-
making performance. This experiment aims to investigate how time pressure affects decision
making in a controlled laboratory setting.

Hypothesis:
H1- Performance under time pressure condition will exhibit faster decision making.
H2- Performance under time pressure condition will show low accuracy

Aim:
The aim of this experiment is to examine the impact of time pressure on decision-making
performance.

Independent Variable (IV):

Time Pressure (Two levels: no time pressure vs. time pressure)
- No time pressure condition: Participants will have no time to deliberate and make decisions.
- time pressure condition: Participants will be under time constraints, requiring quick decision-
making.

Dependent Variables (DV):

- Number of correct responses

Design:
Between group design method having one independent variable with 2 levels

Procedure:
1. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two conditions (no time pressure or time
pressure).
2. In each condition, participants will be presented with a series of decision-making tasks.
These tasks may involve scenarios from various domains (e.g., finance, ethics, health).
3. Participants will make decisions within the allocated time frame according to the condition.
4. After each decision, participants may be asked to indicate their confidence level in their
choice.
5. The experiment will include breaks between conditions to minimise fatigue and order effects.

Expected Outcome:
We expect that participant in the time pressure condition will exhibit faster decision-making
but may show lower accuracy compared to those in the no time pressure condition. This would
support the hypothesis that time pressure influences decision-making processes and outcomes.

Conclusion:
This experiment will contribute to our understanding of how time pressure affects decision
making, with implications for real-world scenarios such as job interviews, financial
investments, and emergency situations.
Examples
1. You have a budget to redecorate your living room. How do you prioritize between buying
new furniture, repainting the walls, or adding decorative elements like paintings or plants?
2. Your company is considering launching a new product. How would you evaluate the
potential risks and benefits before making a decision?
3. Imagine you're planning a vacation. How do you decide between visiting multiple
destinations or spending more time exploring one location in depth?
4. You're tasked with selecting a vendor for a crucial project. What factors would you consider
in making this decision, and how would you weigh them against each other?
5. Your friend asks for advice on choosing a career path. What approach would you take to help
them make a decision, considering their strengths, interests, and future prospects?
6. You need to choose a restaurant for a last-minute dinner reservation. What criteria would
you use to quickly make a decision?
7. Your team is in a meeting, and a sudden issue arises requiring immediate action. How do
you prioritize potential solutions and make a decision under time constraints?
8. Imagine you're at the airport, and your flight is delayed. You need to quickly decide whether
to wait for the next available flight or explore alternative transportation options. How do you
make this decision under pressure?
9. You're participating in a negotiation, and the other party presents a limited-time offer. How
do you assess the offer and decide whether to accept, reject, or counter it?
10. Your car breaks down on a road trip, and you need to choose between repairing it
immediately or finding alternative transportation to continue your journey. What factors do you
consider in making this quick decision?