The self-regulation of decision-relevant modes of thought

双过程理论通常区分信息处理的冲动和反射模式。大量的研究关注这两种处理模式的性质及其对判断和决定的影响。在我们的研究项目中，我们调查个人是否可以战略性地参与反射（与冲动）信息处理，以及这种参与如何影响决策。我们从信息处理的自我调节的角度来解决这个问题。具体来说，我们利用了“如果-那么”计划（也称为实施意图）的自我调节策略。我们项目第一阶段的结果提供了一致的证据，表明个体确实可以使用ifthen计划来进行反思性信息处理。在各种决策情境中，我们发现，计划进行反思性处理会促进以下反应：（1）花费更多时间;（2）较少依赖于情境、性格和情感动机的影响;（3）在基于绩效的反思性处理评估中产生更好的绩效。在我们项目的第二阶段，我们计划通过仔细检查由参与反射处理触发的过程来增强这些令人鼓舞的发现。具体来说，我们将追求两个主要目标：首先，我们将研究计划反射如何改变主动信息获取。这将通过诉诸MouseLab技术作为一个既定的工具来跟踪信息处理。其次，我们将研究这些信息获取的变化是否构成反射效应发生的先决条件。我们计划进行总共8个实验，包括基于表现的反思处理评估（即，认知反射测试）以及设计用于测量社会的范式（即，最后通牒游戏）和风险偏好（即，游戏任务）。我们项目第二阶段的拟议研究在重要方面加强了我们目前的研究。除了知道计划参与反思实际上会导致反思（伴随着更一致的选择和更好的表现）之外，我们还可以深入了解潜在的过程。更具体地说，我们将更好地了解计划反射如何改变主动信息获取，以及这些变化是反射效应发生的先决条件的程度。这些知识对于进一步完善“如果-那么”计划和获得促进反思性处理的强大自我调节工具至关重要。

Dual-process theories commonly distinguish between impulsive and reflective modes of information processing. A large body of research has been concerned with the nature of these two modes of processing and their effects on judgements and decisions. In our research project, we investigate whether individuals can strategically engage in reflective (versus impulsive) information processing, and how such an engagement affects decision making. We address this issue from the perspective of the self-regulation of information processing. Specifically, we capitalize on the selfregulation strategy of if-then planning (also referred to as implementation intentions). The results from the first phase of our project provide converging evidence that individuals can indeed use ifthen plans to engage in reflective information processing. Across a variety of decision contexts, we found that planning to engage in reflective processing fostered responses that (1) took more time, (2) relied less on contextual, dispositional, and affective-motivational influences, and (3) produced a better performance in performance-based assessments of reflective processing. In the second phase of our project, we plan to augment these encouraging findings by scrutinizing the processes triggered by engaging in reflective processing. Specifically, we will pursue two main aims: First, we will investigate how planned reflection changes active information acquisition. This will be done by resorting to the MouseLab technique as an established tool for tracing information processing. Second, we will examine whether these changes in information acquisition constitute a prerequisite for reflection effects to occur. We plan to conduct a total of 8 experiments, comprising a performance-based assessment of reflective processing (i.e., Cognitive Reflection Test) as well as paradigms designed to measure social (i.e., ultimatum games) and risk preferences (i.e., gambling tasks). The proposed studies for the second phase of our project augment our current research in important ways. Beyond knowing that planning to engage in reflection actually leads to reflection (accompanied by more consistent choices and better performance), we gain insights into the underlying processes. More specifically, we will better understand how planned reflection changes active information acquisition, and the extent to which these changes are a prerequisite for reflection effects to occur. Such knowledge is crucial to further refine if-then planning and to obtain a powerful self-regulation tool for facilitating reflective processing.