Document Type

Research

Keywords

Set-Size Effects, Information Processing

Abstract

This paper deals with the set-size effect in information processing: the study of how subjective judgments and impressions based on sets of information vary as a function of the amount of information in the set. Subjects rated each of a series of popular old movies to be used in assembling a college film festival. They then rated intact groups of movies of various size and indicated how much money should be spent for each group. Group ratings and money allocations were examined as a function of group size. Group ratings were found to increase in polarity and money allocations were found to increase as the number of movies in the group increased. This supports the general conclusion that the greater the amount of information presented, the more extreme the response. The set-size function in each case was negatively accelerated (i.e., subject to a law of diminishing returns). These results can best be described by an averaging model in which the value of each movie in a group is averaged with an initial neutral expectancy.

Publication Date

July 1975

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

Issue

First Page

144

Last Page

147

Copyright

Language

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Levin, Irwin P. and Hensley, Valerie S. (1975) "Averaging and Set-Size Effects in Selecting Groups of Movies for a Film Festival," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 82(2), 144-147.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol82/iss2/17

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Averaging and Set-Size Effects in Selecting Groups of Movies for a Film Festival

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