Increased source-monitoring load induces better decisions: Evidence polarization through exponential weighting

<div>Gathering information about gamble-options from multiple sources simultaneously could impose difficulties in assigning an event to its respective source (i.e. did option ‘A’ payout $10 and option ‘B’ $12, or was it the other way around?). We examined the effect of source-monitoring-load on risky choice by testing repeated choices between “Safer” and “Riskier” slot-machines with different long-run averages. To manipulate source-monitoring load, the congruency between the screen-position of the machines in the choice-phase and the feedback-display of outcomes was manipulated across trials. As higher demands on source-monitoring were imposed, participants chose the superior option (higher long-run average) more often. A modelling analysis revealed that participants’ choices were consistent with a convex exponential weighting function that assigns greater weight to larger outcomes - polarizing evidence and choice towards the superior machine . We conclude that increasing source-monitoring-load encouraged participants to focus on information that is most consistent with a goal of receiving the highest payoffs.&nbsp;</div>