Bayes Rule as a Descriptive Model: The Representativeness Heuristic

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 1980
Volume: 95
Issue: 3
Pages: 537-557

Authors (1)

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Results of experiments designed to test the claim of psychologists that expected utility theory does not provide a good descriptive model are reported. The deviation from tested theory is that, in revising beliefs, individuals ignore prior or base-rate information contrary to Bayes rule. Flaws in the evidence in the psychological literature are noted, an experiment avoiding these difficulties is designed and carried out, and the psychologists' predictions are stated in terms of a more general model. The psychologists' predictions are confirmed for inexperienced or financially unmotivated subjects, but for others the evidence is less clear.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:95:y:1980:i:3:p:537-557.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25