• Dear Participant,

                This questionnaire is designed to study aspects of decision making. The information you provide will help us better understand the processes individuals adopt to arrive at a decision. As you are the one who can give us a correct picture of how you make decisions, we request you to respond to the questions frankly and honestly.

    You response will be kept strictly confidential. Only members of the research team will have access to the information you give.

    The  completed questionnaires will not be made available to anyone other than the research team. A summary of the results will be mailed to you after the data are analyzed.

    Note: Of the particpants who have filled the questionnaire carefully, 5 of them (identified by random number generation) will be rewarded Flipkart vouchers, each worth Rs. 500. The selected particpants will be intimated through email.

                                                                        

                                                                         Regards,

                                                                         Venkat Ram Reddy G

                                                                         MS Scholar

                                                                         Department Of Management Studies

                                                                         Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

                                                                         Email: ms13s011@smail.iitm.ac.in

  • General Information:

    The following questionnaire has 10 sections. Kindly answer all the items across all the sections. Please read the instructions given bold-italics, at the beginning of each section before you start answering the questions. Further, please answer the sections according to the given sequence.

    Please click on 'Next' to start with the survey.

  • Section 1:

    Instructions:

    Each of the following problems presents a choice between two options.  Each problem is presented with a scale ranging from 1 (representing one option) through 6 (representing the other option).  For each item, please choose the number on the scale that best reflects your relative preference between the two options. 


  • 1) Imagine that recent evidence has shown that a pesticide is threatening the lives of 1,200 endangered animals. Two response options have been suggested: If Option A is used, 600 animals will be saved for sure. If Option B is used, there is a 75% chance that 800 animals will be saved, and a 25% chance that no animals will be saved. Which option do you recommend to use?
  • 2) Imagine that in one particular state in India, it is projected that 1000 students will drop out of school during the next year. Two programs have been proposed to address this problem, but only one can be implemented. Based on other states’ experiences with the programs, estimates of the outcomes that can be expected from each program can be made. Assume for purposes of this decision that these estimates of the outcomes are accurate and are as follows: If Program A is adopted, 400 of the 1000 students will stay in school. If Program B is adopted, there is a 40% chance that all 1000 students will stay in school and 60% chance that none of the 1000 students will stay in school. Which program would you favor for implementation?

  • -Continuation of Section 1-

  • 3) Imagine that the India is preparing for the outbreak of an unusual disease, which is expected to kill 600 people. Two alternative programs to combat the disease have been proposed. Assume that the exact scientific estimates of the consequences of the programs are as follows: If Program A is adopted, 200 people will be saved. If Program B is adopted, there is a 33% chance that 600 people will be saved, and a 67% chance that no people will be saved. Which program do you recommend to use?
  • 4) Imagine a hospital is treating 32 injured soldiers, who are all expected to lose one leg. There are two doctors that can help the soldiers, but only one can be hired: If Doctor A is hired, 20 soldiers will keep both legs. If Doctor B is hired, there is a 63% chance that all soldiers keep both legs and a 37% chance that nobody will save both legs. Which doctor do you recommend?

  • Section 2:

    Instructions:

    Each of the following problems ask you to rate your judgment of a product or a situation.  Each problem is presented with a scale ranging from 1 (representing the worst rating) through 6 (representing the best rating).  For each problem, please choose the number on the scale that best reflects your judgment. 

  • 1) In a recent confidential survey completed by graduating students, 35% of those completing the survey stated that they had never cheated during their college career. Considering the results of the survey, how would you rate the incidence of cheating at your university?
  • 2) Suppose a student got 90% correct in the mid-term exam and 70% correct in the final-term exam, what would be your evaluations of this student’s performance?
  • 3) Imagine that a woman parked illegally. After talking to her, you believe that there is a 20% chance that she did not know she parked illegally. With this in mind, how much of a fine do you believe this woman deserves?
  • 4) Imagine that a new technique has been developed to treat a particular kind of cancer. This technique has a 50% chance of success, and is available at the local hospital. A member of your immediate family is a patient at the local hospital with this kind of cancer. Would you encourage him or her to undergo treatment using this technique?

  • Section 3:

    Instructions:

    This survey presents true/false questions about various aspects of everyday life.  You may think that some items do not have a clear-cut answer.  For those items, please try to give the answer that would be true in general, or in most cases.

    For each of the following statements, circle true or false to indicate your answer.  Then circle a number on the scale to indicate how sure you are of your answer.  The scale ranges from 50% (meaning that you were just guessing) to 100% (meaning that you were absolutely sure).

  • 1) Stress makes it easier to form bad habits.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 2) There is no way to improve your memory.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 3) Muscles do not burn calories when you are at rest.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 4) A promotion means that you will get a more satisfying job.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 5) Procrastination is worse when you work in a cluttered environment.
  • How sure are you of your answer?

  • -Continuation of Section 3-

  • 6) A venture capital fund invests in new businesses by providing startup capital.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 7) Carbohydrates are fattening no matter how much you eat of them.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 8) Young people face few stereotypes when looking for a job.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 9) It can be instructive for children to see their parents resolve a fight.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 10) Assertive behavior makes your brain experience an increase in pleasure.
  • How sure are you of your answer?

  • -Continuation of Section 3-

  • 11) Self-employed people pay the same amount of taxes as people who work for an employer.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 12) When buying a new home, there is little need to have it inspected before you buy it.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 13) Creating a routine is an important step in getting unpleasant work done.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 14) Once you have experienced an event, your memory of it can not be changed.
  • How sure are you of your answer?
  • 15) If you get into an accident, let the other person take the lead in handling the details.
  • How sure are you of your answer?

  • Section 4:

    Instructions:

    Each of these questions asks for your best guess at the chance that something will happen in the future.

    Please indicate the chance of happening as a percentage between 0 and 100 inclusive.

    0%- Indicates no chance of the event happening.

    100%- Indicates certainty of the event happening.

  • A. The following questions ask about events that may happen some time

          during the next year.

  • B. The following questions ask about events that may happen some time

          during the next 5 years.

  • Section 5:

    Instructions:

    Each of the following problems presents a choice between two options.  Each problem is presented with a scale ranging from 1 (representing one option) through 6 (representing the other option).  For each item, please circle the number on the scale that best reflects your relative preference between the two options. 

  • 1) You enjoy playing tennis, but you really love swimming. You just became a member of a tennis club, and of a bowling club, both at the same time. The membership to your tennis club costs Rs.10000 per year and the membership to your swimming club Rs.2500 per year. During the first week of both memberships, you develop an elbow injury. It is painful to play either tennis or swimming. Your doctor tells you that the pain will continue for about a year. Would you be more likely to play tennis or swimming in the next six months?
  • 2) After a large meal at a restaurant, you order a big dessert with chocolate and ice cream. After a few bites you find you are full and you would rather not eat any more of it. Would you be more likely to eat more or to stop eating it?
  • 3) You are in a hotel room for one night and you have paid Rs.99 to watch a movie on pay TV. Then you discover that there is a movie you would much rather like to see on one of the free cable TV channels. You only have time to watch one of the two movies. Would you be more likely to watch the movie on pay TV or on the free cable channel?

  • -Continuation of Section 5-

  • 4) You decide to learn to play a musical instrument. After you buy an expensive guitar, you find you are no longer interested. Your neighbor is moving and you are excited that she is leaving you her old violin, for free. You’d like to learn how to play it. Would you be more likely to practice the guitar or the violin?
  • 5) You and your friend are at a movie theater together. Both you and your friend are getting bored with the storyline. You would hate to waste the money spent on the ticket, but you both feel that you would have a better time at the coffee shop next door. You could sneak out without other people noticing. Would you be more likely to stay or to leave?
  • 6) You and your friend have driven halfway to a resort. Both you and your friend feel sick. You both feel that you both would have a much better weekend at home. Your friend says it is "too bad" you already drove halfway, because you both would much rather spend the time at home. You agree. Would you be more likely to drive on or turn back?

  • Section 6:

    Instructions:

    Each of the following problems presents a choice between two options.  Each problem is presented with a scale ranging from 1 (representing one option) through 6 (representing the other option).  For each item, please circle the number on the scale that best reflects your relative preference between the two options. 

  • 1) Imagine a hospital is treating 32 injured soldiers, who are all expected to lose one leg. There are two doctors that can help the soldiers, but only one can be hired: If Doctor A is hired, 12 soldiers will lose one leg. If Doctor B is hired, there is a 63% chance that nobody loses a leg and a 37% chance that all lose a leg. Which doctor do you recommend?
  • 2) Imagine that the India is preparing for the outbreak of an unusual disease, which is expected to kill 600 people. Two alternative programs to combat the disease have been proposed. Assume that the exact scientific estimates of the consequences of the programs are as follows: If Program A is adopted, 400 people will die. If Program B is adopted, there is a 33% chance that nobody will die, and a 67% chance that 600 people will die. Which program do you recommend to use?

  • -Continuation of Section 6-

  • 3) Imagine that recent evidence has shown that a pesticide is threatening the lives of 1,200 endangered animals. Two response options have been suggested: If Option A is used, 600 animals will be lost for sure. If Option B is used, there is a 75% chance that 400 animals will be lost, and a 25% chance that 1,200 animals will be lost. Which option do you recommend to use?
  • 4) Imagine that in one particular state in India, it is projected that 1000 students will drop out of school during the next year. Two programs have been proposed to address this problem, but only one can be implemented. Based on other states’ experiences with the programs, estimates of the outcomes that can be expected from each program can be made. Assume for purposes of this decision that these estimates of the outcomes are accurate and are as follows: If Program A is adopted, 600 of the 1000 students will drop out of school. If Program B is adopted, there is a 40% chance that none of the 1000 students will drop out of school and 60% chance that all 1000 students will drop out of school. Which program would you favor for implementation?

  • Section 7:

    Instructions:

    Each of the following problems ask you to rate your judgment of a product or a situation.  Each problem is presented with a scale ranging from 1 (representing the worst rating) through 6 (representing the best rating).  For each problem, please circle the number on the scale that best reflects your judgment. 

  • 1) Imagine that a woman parked illegally. After talking to her, you believe that there is an 80% chance that she knew she parked illegally. With this in mind, how much of a fine do you believe this woman deserves?
  • 2) In a recent confidential survey completed by graduating students, 65% of those completing the survey stated that they had cheated during their college career. Considering the results of the survey, how would you rate the incidence of cheating at your university?
  • 3) Imagine that a new technique has been developed to treat a particular kind of cancer. This technique has a 50% chance of failure, and is available at the local hospital. A member of your immediate family is a patient at the local hospital with this kind of cancer. How likely are you to encourage him or her to undergo treatment using this technique?
  • 4) Suppose a student got 10% incorrect in the mid-term exam and 30% incorrect in the final-term exam, what would be your evaluations of this student’s performance?

  • Section 8:

    Instructions:

    For each of the statements below, please indicate to what extent the statement is characteristic of you.

  • Rows

  • Section 9:

    Instructions:

    For each of the statements below,please indicate the extent to which you disagree or agree.

    Kindly note that 'work' here constitutes tasks releavnt to your current occupation.

  • Rows

  • Section 10:

    Instructions:

    Kindly indcate the following demographic details.

  • Your age :
  • Your Gender
  • Your highest level of completed education:

  • Years of work experience in an Organization: (Kindly, exclude internships and other temporary assignments)

  • We sincerely appreciate your time and cooperation. Please check to make sure that you have not skipped any questions inadvertently and click on submit button.

                                                                                           Thank you!

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