Rank and Sign Dependent Linear Utility Theory: Theoretical Extensions, Empirical Tests, and Applied Relevance

该提案概述了预期效用理论研究的一个有价值的延伸。40年的经验得出了两个结论。经验研究人员强调的一个问题是，该理论不能充分描述许多实验和现实情况下的行为。决策分析师强调的另一个原因是，该理论的公理在规范上很有吸引力，很难被驳回。在过去十年中，描述性的不充分和规范性的呼吁之间的差距扩大了。因此，研究者不仅对期望效用理论的描述有效性提出了质疑，而且对其规范基础提出了质疑。提出的研究首先确定描述性和规范性研究在一个新发展的秩和符号依赖（RSD）线性效用理论的共同点。研究者提出(1)扩展RSD中包含的概念范围，(2)检验RSD的关键假设，(3)发展RSD与传统效用理论之间的联系，(4)探索RSD背景下的规范-描述性区别。因此，本研究将理论发展、实验研究和应用经验相结合，努力弥合不确定性下决策理论的规范性与描述性差距。

The proposal outlines a valuable extension of research on expected utility theory. Forty years of experience has led to two conclusions. One, stressed by empirical researchers, is that the theory does not adequately describe behavior in many experimental and real-world situations. The other, stressed by decision analysts, is that the axioms of the theory are normatively appealing and difficult to dismiss. The gap between the descriptive inadequacy and normative appeal has widened in the past ten years. As a result, researchers have challenged not only the descriptive validity, but the normative basis of expected utility theory. The proposed research begins by identifying a common ground for descriptive and normative research in a newly developed rank and sign dependent (RSD) linear utility theory. The investigators propose (1) to extend the range of concepts included in RSD, (2) to test key assumptions of RSD, (3) to develop connections between RSD and traditional utility theory, and (4) to explore the normative-descriptive distinction in the context of RSD. Thus, the research combines theoretical development, experimental research, and applied experience in an effort to bridge the normative- descriptive gap in the theory of decision making under uncertainty.