Human information processing and decision-making

The papers summarized in this discussion reflect some of the characteristics of the human as an information processor and as a user of this processed information in a subsequent decision-making type of situation. In the first of the papers presented here reporting research carried out at the decision-making laboratories at the Pennsylvania State University, it is shown how the human adjusts his rate of responding to particular ratios of reinforcement to particular stimuli not only as a function of the reinforcement ratio but also as a function of the context of other reinforcement ratios he is learning at the same time. The second paper reviews the adaptation of the human information processor in learning and decision-making to programmed changes in variability of reinforcement ratios. These ratios range from zero change in material programmed for learning to small and large changes in the variability of the reinforcement ratios. During these changes overall mean proportions of reinforcement are constant. Of particular importance is the stability of the decision-maker in seemingly disregarding the rather gross changes in the programmed variability of the stimuli he is required to learn and on which he must base subsequent decisions. The third study summarized extends results described earlier. Unlike the earlier study, however, materials in the form of meaningful words are used here as stimuli. Of special importance is the rather "floating" characteristic of formerly neutral, or nonresponse-eliciting, stimuli as a function of the training schedule of un-related words.