Option generation in decision making: ideation beyond memory retrieval

Abstract

According to prescriptive decision theories, the generation of options for choice is a central aspect of decision making. A too narrow representation of the problem may indeed limit the opportunity to evaluate promising options. However, despite the theoretical and applied significance of this topic, the cognitive processes underlying option generation are still unclear. In particular, while a cued recall account of option generation emphasizes the role of memory and executive control, other theoretical proposals stress the importance of ideation processes based on various search and thinking processes. Unfortunately, relevant behavioral evidence on the cognitive processes underlying option generation is scattered and inconclusive. In order to reach a better understanding, we carried out an individual-differences study employing a wide array of cognitive predictors, including measures of episodic memory, semantic memory, cognitive control, and ideation fluency. The criterion tasks consisted of three different poorly-structured decision-making scenarios, and the participants were asked to generate options to solve these problems. The main criterion variable of the study was the number of valid options generated, but also the diversity and the quality of generated options were examined. The results showed that option generation fluency and diversity in the context of ill-structured decision making are supported by ideation ability even after taking into account the effects of individual differences in several other aspects of cognitive functioning. Thus, ideation processes, possibly supported by search and thinking processes, seem to contribute to option generation beyond basic associative memory retrieval. The findings of the study also indicate that generating more options may have multifaceted consequences for choice, increasing the quality of the best option generated but decreasing the mean quality of the options in the generated set.

Cognitive synergy in groups and group-to-individual transfer of decision-making competencies

“…As idea generation is essential in decision making (DelMissier et al, 2015), we argue that interpersonal interactions in groups create collaborative zones of proximal development that facilitate the development of individual decision competencies. We posit that through social learning processes less competent group members can develop their decision competencies by interacting with more rational group members.…”

The Cognitive Underpinnings of Option Generation in Everyday Life Decision‐Making: A Latent Variable Analysis

“…Limiting the generation phase to 1 min could render processing speed and verbal fluency particularly important, since both interindividual differences are measures that yield time constraints. Previous studies used time constraints of 2 min (Hartmann et al., ), 30 s (Häusser et al., ), 8 s (Kaiser et al., ), or 6 min (Del Missier et al., ). In line with our findings, in the study with a 2 min time limit (Hartmann et al., ), processing speed, ideation fluency, and category fluency were also relevant predictors of option generation.…”

“…Importantly, there is preliminary evidence for a link between verbal fluency and option generation. Kaiser et al (2013, Study 1) observed that verbal fluency was associated with the number of options generated (Study 1, Kaiser et al, 2013) and verbal fluency was the only general cognitive process associated with option generation in one scenario in the study of Del Missier et al (2015). Furthermore, Hartmann et al (2015) found that apathy ratings in patients with schizophrenia were negatively correlated with the quantity of generated options, and, importantly, this link between apathy and option generation performance was partially mediated by verbal fluency.…”

“…(, Study 1) observed that verbal fluency was associated with the number of options generated (Study 1, Kaiser et al., ) and verbal fluency was the only general cognitive process associated with option generation in one scenario in the study of Del Missier et al. (). Furthermore, Hartmann et al.…”

“…Empirical evidence for the assumption that creative cognition is related to option generation is mixed. Studies using the alternate uses test report divergent thinking to be associated with option generation (Del Missier et al., ; Engelmann & Gettys, ; Hartmann et al., ). By contrast, a study using the remote association test (Mednick, ), which is a measure of convergent thinking, found no relationship between creative cognition and option generation (Kaiser et al., ).…”