{"id":3167,"date":"2017-04-17T22:12:13","date_gmt":"2017-04-18T02:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/?p=3167"},"modified":"2020-02-07T11:56:38","modified_gmt":"2020-02-07T16:56:38","slug":"status-quo-bias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/2017\/04\/17\/status-quo-bias\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t mess with the flow, no, no! Stick to the status quo!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you been using the same brand of toothpaste for years? Do you tend to eat the same meal everyday? Do you stay on Facebook for hours simply because it was pulled up on your computer when you turned it on?<\/p>\n

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HSM “Stick to the status quo”<\/p><\/div>\n

Each of these situations may be a result of your status quo bias<\/em>. You\u2019ve probably heard of the status quo, maybe that High School Musical song is floating around somewhere in your head. The status quo is exactly how Chad Danforth sang it- it\u2019s the situation that you\u2019re in at each moment in time. For you, right now, it is sitting (or laying or standing) at a computer (or mobile device!) and reading this awesome blog about the status quo bias (whoa your status quo is reading about the status quo!). Now the status quo bias deviates here<\/u> from High School Musical. Where the Wildcats were singing for everyone to stick to the status quo<\/em> because it was better or superior to any alternative, the status quo bias is basically sticking with the status quo because it\u2019s the status quo.<\/p>\n

Although the status quo bias effects everyone, most studies examining the status quo bias have been done by economists. This is because  economists initially assumed that people would make rational choices when buying goods. And their assumption was backed up by data when there were only two choices- A or B. If A is better than B, or vice versa, then participants will make the rational choice and choose the better option. However<\/em>, when faced with a choice between the A, and B, where A is better than B, but B is what you have now- a majority of participants will choose B even though the rational choice is A.<\/p>\n

\"Don't<\/a>

CogBlog- Media Village<\/p><\/div>\n

For example, let\u2019s say you open your computer browser and you have two options: go to Facebook or go to Colby College\u2019s CogBlog. Now I may be biased, but there\u2019s clearly a better choice: the CogBlog! If nothing was already typed into your browser you would make the rational choice, go to the CogBlog site, and thoroughly enjoy yourself. However, if you opened your computer and Facebook was already pulled up on your browser, when choosing between Facebook and CogBlog, you wouldn\u2019t be reading this post (unless your cousin\u2019s husband\u2019s sister shared our link on your Facebook newsfeed- please share this blog on your newsfeed)!<\/p>\n

Now, where\u2019s my proof you ask?! In a 2011 study examining the Dutch healthcare system, which all Dutch citizens are required to buy from a private health insurer, participants were asked to choose between insurance providers, given a list of their attributes, such as financial incentives and qualitative incentives, and accompanying levels, such as copayments and opening hours. Participants are then told to describe their current health insurance plan and compare that insurance plan to a hypothetical new one. This part of their study allowed the researchers to examine the value participants placed on staying with their current health plan, compared to a new plan. When their current healthcare plan and the hypothetical plan  had all the same attributes and levels, participants were 40% more likely to choose their existing plan over the new one, compared to the 50-50 odds if the healthcare providers were both hypothetical (Boonen, Donkers, & Schut, 2011). This study provides evidence for what impact the status quo bias can have on real life decisions. Although the authors of this study did not examine the monetary value of people\u2019s preference towards their current situation, it is an import question to ponder. How much more could a current provider charge before you would consider switching? Conversely, how much less would their opponent have to charge to get you to switch?<\/p>\n

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Dogs make decisions too<\/p><\/div>\n

In 1988, Samuelson and Zeckhauser completed a study testing the effect of the status quo bias. Participants completed a questionnaire about decisions that either an individual, a manager, or a government policymaker were facing that matched each of the three professions. Within these decisions, there was often a status quo position and alternative choices. Samuelson and Zeckhauser (1988) found that participants showed the status quo bias during decision making between two equally ranked options and that as more alternatives were added, there was an increasing bias towards the status quo. In addition, Samuelson and Zeckhauser (1988) found that the status quo bias decreases as the benefit for switching increases.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go back to the CogBlog versus Facebook example. Remember where we left off? When you turned on your computer, Facebook was already pulled up and you, sadly, never went to the CogBlog website to read this article. (I know that didn\u2019t happen, because you\u2019re reading this now, but stick with me!) Given the evidence from Samuelson and Zeckhauser (1988), had Facebook already been pulled up, you would be even more likely to stay on Facebook with each increasing website added to your potential options. So, if you turned on your computer and Facebook was pulled up, you would be even less likely to leave Facebook when your other options were CogBlog and, say, Pintrest. On the other hand, if you heard through the grapevine that, in addition to CogBlog being super interesting and fun, those that tuned into the CogBlog were given $5 giftcards to someplace awesome (not true, but maybe ask Professor Jen Coane, PhD, and she\u2019ll be feeling generous??), then even if Facebook was already pulled up when you turned on your computer, you\u2019d be more likely to overcome the status quo bias and turn to http:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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Jennifer Aniston thinking<\/p><\/div>\n

How do we make everyday decisions involved in choosing to stay in the situation we\u2019re in or changing our situation? Judgement and decision making is a complex part of human cognition. In a 2006 study conducted four experiments to examine judgement and decision making under uncertain conditions. To understand their conclusions, you might need to be reminded how cognitive processes work. All cognitive processes use either automatic or controlled processes, or a combination of the two. An automatic process is one that does not require attention, awareness, or general resources. For example, walking down the street is an automatic process, you don\u2019t require attentional resources to make sure your body walks correctly. A controlled process is one that does require attention, awareness, or general resources and is a voluntary action. An example of a controlled process is you reading this blog right now and thinking about its content. The researchers of this study operated under the dual nature theory<\/span>. The dual nature theory of judgement is that it operate on both levels, some part of a decision is made automatically while the other part is controlled. The study conducted by Ferreira, Garcia-Marques, Sherman, and Sherman found evidence to support the dual nature theory and also that the controlled resources are responsive to training (meaning you get better at controlled processes as you practice them; remember how hard learning to read was? It\u2019s much easier now). In addition, these processes begin at the same time but because controlled processes usually finish first, automatic reasoning only succeeds to make the decision when the controlled process fails (Ferreira et al., 2006). Using this model, decision making towards the status quo is either a controlled process because it happens so often or an automatic process that occurs when the controlled process fails because bias towards the status quo usually goes against rational thought.<\/p>\n

From what research I\u2019ve read, there has not been a consensus about why<\/em> humans cognitively stick to what they know.  What we know now is that the status quo bias often influences what we choose to do. What we don\u2019t know is why. Is it because the status quo takes up more attentional resources and is then more noticeable? Is it because you assume you must have been right the first time (that lead you to choose the status quo) and so it must be right again? Or is it an avoidance of making any decision at all? Sadly for your reading pleasure, there has not been a definite explanation that answers each aspect of the status quo bias and it must be studied further.<\/p>\n

\"For<\/a>

Too Long, Didn’t Read<\/p><\/div>\n

The TLDR of this blog is that the status quo bias is effects people who have to choose between their current situation (their status quo) and something else. Even if the other situation is slightly better then their status quo, most people will chose the status quo. They\u2019ll become increasingly more likely to choose their status quo when they’re faced with more options. But, they\u2019ll become increasingly more likely to overcome the status quo bias the more rewarding other options are (Samuelson & Zeckhauser, 1988). This bias effects everyday decisions like choosing what websites to surf and important decisions like choosing between healthcare providers (Boonen, Donkers, & Schut, 2011). You should be aware of this bias and make sure that you choose the better option for you rather than succumbing to the status quo bias- Next time you find yourself sitting on Facebook all day, simply because it was on your computer when you turned it on, become aware that you’re succumbing and do your best to over come this bias by increasing the benefits of switching!<\/p>\n

I now give you permission to leave this status quo and return to Facebook or another blog post! Thank you for taking the time to read this blog! Please comment with questions, new information, or suggestions!<\/p>\n

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Minions saying “thank you!”<\/p><\/div>\n

Want more of the status quo bias? See more CogBlogs by Cole Walsh<\/a> and Adela Ramovic<\/a>!<\/p>\n

References<\/p>\n

Boonen, L. H., Donkers, B., & Schut, F. T. (2011). Channeling consumers to preferred providers and the impact of status quo bias: does type of provider matter?. Health services research<\/em>, 46<\/em>, 510-530.<\/p>\n

Ferreira, M. B., Garcia-Marques, L., Sherman, S. J., & Sherman, J. W. (2006). Automatic and controlled components of judgment and decision making. Journal of personality and social psychology<\/em>, 91<\/em>(5), 797.<\/p>\n

Samuelson, W., & Zeckhauser, R. (1988). Status quo bias in decision making. Journal of risk and uncertainty<\/em>, 1<\/em>, 7-59.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you been using the same brand of toothpaste for years? Do you tend to eat the same meal everyday? Do you stay on Facebook for hours simply because it was pulled up on your computer when you turned it on? Each of these situations may be a result of your status quo bias. You\u2019ve probably […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6436,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[266316,130416],"tags":[130416],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3167"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6436"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3167"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5432,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3167\/revisions\/5432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/cogblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}