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The Effect of Using Large versus Small Units in Quantitative Estimates of Length, Weight, and Volume

Sun, Jonghun
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1351279308

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Previous research has demonstrated that changes in units can affect judgments and decisions. For example, people interpret quantitative information that is expressed as a larger number of small units as being larger than the same quantity expressed as a smaller number of large units. In related work, estimates of length or distance or the monetary value of goods are sometimes larger when participants use large units rather than small units. In all of this research, however, the focus has been on other phenomena (e.g., anchoring, attribute weighting, consumer behavior) rather than on the underlying relationship between numerical estimates and units. In two studies, we anticipated that participants’ estimates of physical quantities (e.g., the weight of a brick) would be larger when participants used larger units (e.g., pounds) than when they used smaller units (e.g., ounces), because their numerical answers would not be adjusted enough to compensate for differences in units. In Study 1, estimates of items’ length, weight, and volume were larger when made in larger units than when made in smaller units. This “unit effect” remained significant when we adjusted for participants’ incorrect knowledge of unit ratios and when we considered only those participants who knew the correct ratios. In addition, the unit effect was larger when participants were less familiar with the units used to make the estimates. In Study 2, participants estimated weight and volume using either familiar or unfamiliar (fictional) units. The unit effect was significant for unfamiliar units but not for familiar units. Possible mechanisms for these results are discussed and further research hypotheses are presented.
Michael DeKay, Dr. (Committee Chair)
Thomas Nygren, Dr. (Committee Member)
Ellen Peters, Dr. (Committee Member)
73 p.
Psychology
Estimation; Unit

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sun, J. (2012). The Effect of Using Large versus Small Units in Quantitative Estimates of Length, Weight, and Volume [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1351279308

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sun, Jonghun. The Effect of Using Large versus Small Units in Quantitative Estimates of Length, Weight, and Volume. 2012. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1351279308.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sun, Jonghun. "The Effect of Using Large versus Small Units in Quantitative Estimates of Length, Weight, and Volume." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1351279308

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1351279308
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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.