An empirical study of attractor strength as a function of decision structure: a refinement of Yager´s measures of decision confidence

Previous empirical studies indicate that differences exist between self-reported measures of post-decision confidence and Yager´s (1982) predicted measures of decision tranquility. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that some systematic differences are a result of attractors, round numbers that appear reasonable at or near special cases although they depart from a broader pattern. The results indicate that the strength of the attractors varies as a function of the decision structure. The research is a preliminary attempt to apply fuzzy mathematics to cognitive psychology. Subjects reported their confidence in a choice based on alternatives using random sets. Subjects´ frequencies of responses were compared by decision type. Three decision structures that appear to increase attractor strength were identified. Univariate t_ tests of the differences of mean response frequencies between decision structure types were significant at the 0.05 level