| This study investigates whether cognitive style, i.e. individual preferences for processing information intuitively vs. analytically, influences the quality of decision making, contingent upon decision making condition and task particulars. It extends earlier work on the effects of introspection and the effectiveness of experiential thinking by including individual differences in cognitive style in the analysis. Contrary to predictions, results of a web-based experiment suggest that cognitive style is not a significant factor for performance on the decision tasks. Although people do exhibit personal information processing preferences, the actual use of intuitive or analytical information processing mode seems independent of those personal preferences; the characteristics of the tasks are actually inducing the appropriate cognitive mode. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings as well as directions for future research are presented. |
