Preschoolers’ use of cue validities as weights in decision-making: Certainty does not substantially change the world

Abstract

A child’s world is full of cues that may help to learn about decision options by providing valuable predictions. However, not all cues are always equally valid. To enhance decision-making, one should use cue validities as weights in decision-making. Prior research showed children’s difficulty in doing so. In 2 conceptual replication studies, we investigated preschoolers’ competencies when they encounter a cue whose prediction is always correct. We assessed 5- to 6-year-olds’ cue evaluations and decision-making in an information-board-game. Participants faced 3 cues when repeatedly choosing between 2 locations to find treasures: A nonprobabilistic, high-validity cue that always provided correct predictions (p = 1) paired with 2 probabilistically correct (Study 1: p = .34, p = .17) or 2 nonprobabilistic, incorrect cues (Study 2: p = 0). Participants considered cue validities—albeit in a rudimentary form. In their cue evaluations, they preferred the high-validity cue, indicating their ability to understand and use cue validity for evaluations. However, in their decision-making, they did not prioritize the high-validity cue. Rather, they frequently searched and followed the predictions of less valid (Study 1) and incorrect cues (Study 2). Our studies strengthen the current state of decision research suggesting that the systematic use of cue validities in decision-making develops throughout childhood. Apparently, having appropriate cue evaluations that reflect cue validities is not sufficient for their use in decision-making. We discuss our findings while considering the importance of learning instances for the development of decision competencies.