Procedural aspects that control discounting rates when using the fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice methods.

Citation

Weatherly, J. N., Feltman, K. A., & Derenne, A. (2014). Procedural aspects that control discounting rates when using the fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice methods. The Behavior Analyst Today, 14(1-2), 9-16.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0101281

Abstract

The present study investigated if and why rates of delay or probability discounting would vary as a function of whether the data were collected using the fill-in-the-blank (FITB) or multiple-choice (MC) method. Participants in Experiment 1 completed a discounting task using either the FITB or MC methods, with the MC groups differing in the number and order of response options. Results showed that the FITB method produced steeper discounting regardless of the MC manipulations. Participants in Experiment 2 completed a discounting task using either the FITB or MC methods, with the FITB groups differing in whether participants were or were not informed of their potential range of responses or shown a list of their possible response options. Results showed that rates of discounting did not differ between the FITB and MC methods when the FITB group was shown the list of possible response options. These results indicate that observed rates of discounting may at least partially reflect procedural artifacts distinct from the process of discounting. Researchers studying discounting, or comparing results across different studies of discounting, should be aware of this possibility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Unique Identifier

2015-31234-003

Title

Procedural aspects that control discounting rates when using the fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice methods.

Publication Date

Jul 2014

Language

English

Author Identifier

Weatherly, Jeffrey N.; Feltman, Kathryn A.; Derenne, Adam

Affiliation

Weatherly, Jeffrey N.: University of North Dakota, ND, US

Feltman, Kathryn A.: University of North Dakota, ND, US

Derenne, Adam: University of North Dakota, ND, US

Source

The Behavior Analyst Today, Vol 14(1-2), Jul 2014, 9-16.

NLM Title Abbreviation

Behav Anal Today

ISSN

1539-4352(Electronic)

Other Serial Titles

Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice

Publisher

US: Joseph D. Cautilli

Other Publishers

US: American Psychological Association

Format Covered

Electronic

Publication Type

Journal; Peer Reviewed Journal

Document Type

Journal Article

Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0101281

Keywords

delay discounting; probability discounting; fill-in-the-blank method; multiple-choice method; university students

Index Terms

*Multiple Choice (Testing Method); *Probability; *Testing Methods; *Delay Discounting; College Students

PsycINFO Classification

2227 Educational Measurement; 3500 Educational Psychology

Population Group

Human; Male; Female

Age Group

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)

Copyright

Holder: American Psychological Association

Year: 2014

Location

US

Methodology

Empirical Study; Quantitative Study

Tests and Measures

Discounting Task

Demographic Questionnaire

Release Date

20150810 (PsycINFO); 20150810 (PsycARTICLES)

References

Number of Citations: 10, Number of Citations Displayed: 10

• Beck, R. C., & Triplett, M. F. (2009). Test–retest reliability of a group-administered paper–pencil measure of delay discounting. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 17(5), 345-355. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0017078
• Estle, S. J., Green, L., Myerson, J., & Holt, D. D. (2007). Discounting of Monetary and Directly Consumable Rewards. Psychological Science, 18(1), 58-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01849.x
• Green, L., & Myerson, J. (2004). A Discounting Framework for Choice With Delayed and Probabilistic Rewards. Psychological Bulletin, 130(5), 769-792. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.130.5.769
• Heerey, E. A., Matveeva, T. M., & Gold, J. M. (2011). Imagining the future: Degraded representations of future rewards and events in schizophrenia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 120(2), 483-489. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0021810
• Heerey, E. A., Robinson, B. M., McMahon, R. R., & Gold, J. M. (2007). Delay discounting in schizophrenia. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, 12(3), 213-221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13546800601005900
• Madden, G. J., & Bickel, W. K. (Eds.). (2010). Impulsivity: The behavioral and neurological science of discounting. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/12069-000
• Myerson, J., Green, L., & Warusawitharana, M. (2001). Area under the curve as a measure of discounting. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 76(2), 235-243. http://dx.doi.org/10.1901/jeab.2001.76-235
• Thaler, R. H. (1981). Some empirical evidence on dynamic inconsistency. Economic Letters, 8, 201-207.
• Weatherly, J. N., Derenne, A., Chase, S. (2008). Do the risk factors for pathological gambling predict temporal discounting? Analysis of Gambling Behavior, 2, 25-34.
• Yi, R., Mitchell, S. H., & Bickel, W. K. (2010). Delay discounting and substance abuse-dependence. In G. J. Madden & W. K. Bickel (Eds.), Impulsivity: The behavioral and neurological science of discounting (pp. 191-211). Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/12069-007