P[A and B] > P[A]P[B] for independent events A,B: erroneous use of probability in a simple visual task
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Statistical models of optimal visuo-motor performance presuppose that visual processing of probability information conforms to standard probability theory (Maloney & Zhang, VisRes, 2010). We test whether observers combine the visually-estimated probabilities of two independent events normatively. Task: During each trial, a subject chose between a single roulette wheel with probability r of success and a pair of independent roulette wheels with probabilities p and q of success. The observer’s estimates of p, q, and r were based on visual judgments of the fraction of each roulette wheel colored gold. The wheels were spun and the observer won a small monetary prize (i) if he chose the single wheel and it stopped in the gold, or (ii) chose the pair and both stopped in the gold. We used a staircase procedure to estimate the r for which the subject chose the pair as often as the single wheel: r~(p,q). Conditions: Twelve experiment conditions corresponded to twelve choices of (p,q), with p being greater than or equal to q. They included four homogeneous groups of conditions of three pairs each, where p1q1 = p2q2 = p3q3. Ten naïve subjects participated. Results: We tested whether observers’ indifference points satisfied r = pq, implying the observer was combining probabilities normatively. All observers had r > pq (Bonferroni-corrected t-tests): they overestimated the conjunction probability. We next tested whether observers assigned the same (erroneous) probability to each of the three pairs in a homogeneous group: did they converge on the same r for each of p1q1 = p2q2 = p3q3? 9/10 observers passed this test of homogeneity. Conclusions: Observers’ combination of probabilities in a simple visual task showed systematic deviations from normative theory. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2012
Source: Journal of Vision
DOI: 10.1167/12.9.432
Authors: J. Tee, H. Zhang, L. T. Maloney
Institution: New York University
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,850
OpenAlex ID: W2009200627