Participants in a study on decision making were asked to rate a particular financial solution for solving a dispute with a neighbor. Half of the participants rated the favorability of a solution in which they would receive $600 and their neighbor would receive $800; the other half of the participants rated a solution in which each party received $500. Which option was the MOST favorably rated?
A)The option that paid the participants $600 and their neighbors $800 was the most favorably rated.
B)The option that paid both the participants and their neighbors $500 was the most favorably rated.
C)The option that paid the participants $600 and their neighbors $800 received the highest percentage of "highly favorable" ratings but also received the highest percentage of "highly unfavorable" ratings.
D)There was no difference between the favorability ratings for the two options.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario is likely to illustrate the concept of fairness or equity in decision making. People often prefer outcomes that are perceived as fair or equitable, even if it means receiving less themselves. The option where both parties receive $500 is seen as more equitable, thus it could be rated more favorably due to the perceived fairness.

Participants in a Study on Decision Making Were Asked to Rate