Research

Gain-loss frequency and final outcome in the Soochow Gambling Task: A Reassessment

Ching-Hung Lin^1,2,3 , Yao-Chu Chiu³ and Jong-Tsun Huang⁴

¹  Institute of Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

²  Laboratory of Integrated Brain Research, Department of Medical Research & Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

³  Department of Psychology, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

⁴  Institute of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, China Medical University & Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China

author email corresponding author email

Behavioral and Brain Functions 2009, 5:45doi:10.1186/1744-9081-5-45

Published:	9 November 2009

Abstract

Background

Behavioral decision making literature suggests that decision makers are guided less by final outcome than by immediate gain-loss. However, studies of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) under dynamic and uncertain conditions reveal very different conclusions about the role of final outcome. Another research group designed a similar yet simpler game, the Soochow Gambling Task (SGT), which demonstrated that, in dynamic decision making, the effect of gain-loss frequency is more powerful than that of final outcome. Further study is needed to determine the precise effect of final outcome on decision makers. This experiment developed two modified SGTs to explore the effect of final outcome under the same gain-loss frequency context.

Methods

Each version of the SGT was performed by twenty-four undergraduate Soochow University students. A large-value (± $200, ± $550 and ± $1050) and a small-value (± $100, ± $150 and ± $650) contrast of SGT were conducted to investigate the final outcome effect. The computerized SGT was launched to record and analyze the choices of the participants.

Results

The results of both SGT versions consistently showed that the preferred decks A and B to decks C and D. Analysis of learning curves also indicated that, throughout the game, final outcome had a minimal effect on the choices of decision makers.

Conclusion

Experimental results indicated that, in both the frequent-gain context and the frequent-loss context, final outcome has little effect on decision makers. Most decision makers are guided by gain-loss frequency but not by final outcome.