Information Seeking with Input Pacing and Multiple Decision Opportunities

Forty-eight college students performed a task in which they had to request updated enemy position reports from three information sources to determine which of eight locations was the target of a gradual enemy advance. Eight different problems, presented twice each, were arranged into two factorial designs. In Design FP, the effects of pacing rate, pacing variability, and the number of decision modification opportunities were evaluated. In Design SP, information requests were self-paced rather than forced-paced; the effects of the number of decision modification opportunities and basis of payoff were studied. Results indicated that (a) self pacing and fast forced pacing resulted in more information seeking and greater accuracy than did slow forced pacing, and (b) increased opportunities for decision modification generally decreased the accuracy of, and confidence in, first decisions. The rate at which information was presented was more important than whether it was provided automatically or upon request.