Some Determinants of Certitude Judgments in a Complex Decision-Making Task

Abstract

This research investigated the relationship between certitude and decision adequacy using a complex problem-solving task. 120 male college Ss, serving with pay, solved 12 problems which varied in amount of information and method of coding. Each S also estimated the adequacy of his solution as well as the affective tone of the situation after the solution of each problem. Data were also available from a set of cognitive-perceptual-style measures. Results indicated that: (1) the correlation between decision adequacy and certitude is low and probably of negligible significance; (2) certitude is closely related to affective aspects of the stimulus; and, (3) level of certitude is related to the level of cognitive and perceptual scanning employed by S. It is suggested that (1) the correlation between certitude and decision adequacy may also be a function of the extensiveness of the response repertoire permitted S in the experimental situation, and (2) more intensive examination of individual differences with respect to accuracy of certitude judgments may be necessary.