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Publication
Perceptual anchoring effects: Evidence of response bias and a change in estimates sensitivity
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Introduction: People’s estimates of perceptual quantities are commonly biased by the
contextual presence of other quantities (like numbers). In this study, we address assimilation anchoring effects (approximation of real quantities to contextual quantities) that
occur for visually displayed proportions, defining a new methodological setting for the
effect.
Method: Similar to classic approaches, we asked participants across several trials
whether the display contained a feature in a proportion higher or lower than “a randomly selected value” (relative judgments), and then estimated the feature proportions
(absolute judgments). Across all trials, we presented seven anchors ranging from .20 to
.80, each with a visually displayed representation of the same seven proportions (49
judgments in total). This allowed for a psychophysical approach to individual estimates
and signal detection indexes, providing new insights into how the anchoring effect is
generated in this setting.
Results: Our findings suggest that anchoring effects occur both as a bias (changes in
response criteria) and as a change in the ability to discriminate stimuli (affecting sensitivity indexes). Moreover, anchors modulate the level of stimuli features for which
estimates were more uncertain. Finally, our results indicate that anchor effects occur
immediately in the first phase of the two-phase paradigm, leading to the availability of
values for supporting absolute estimates.
Conclusion: By using a psychophysical approach to the anchoring effects, for the first
time, we could clarify that this effect is the result of both bias and changes in the ability
to discriminate quantity
Description
Keywords
Absolute/relative estimates Anchoring effects Psychophysics Signal detection approach
Citation
Garcia, M. T., & Fernandes, A. (2023). Perceptual anchoring effects: Evidence of response bias and a change in estimates sensitivity. Brain & Behavior, 13(11), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3254
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.