How attribution-of-competence and scale-granularity explain the anchor precision effect in negotiations and estimations.
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In: Social Cognition, Vol. 38, No. 1, 2020, p. 40-61.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - How attribution-of-competence and scale-granularity explain the anchor precision effect in negotiations and estimations.
AU - Frech, Marie-Lena
AU - Loschelder, David D.
AU - Friese, Malte
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Precise numbers are more potent anchors than round ones. Two theoretical mechanisms have been suggested to account for this anchor precision effect: (1) the scale-granularity account postulates that individuals adjust away from the anchor in smaller steps on a finer-grained mental scale, and (2) the attribution-of-competence account postulates that people ascribe more competence to a precise-opening individual. Direct empirical evidence for both accounts is scarce, however, and exists mainly for the attribution-of-competence account in a negotiation context. In two experiments, we examined the two competing mechanisms simultaneously (Experiment 1) and contrasted them in a negotiation and in an estimation context (Experiment 2). Moreover, we developed and validated (Pilot Study) a direct measurement of scale-granularity. Mediation analyses showed that both attribution-of-competence and, for the first time, scale-granularity mediate the anchor-precision effect. The results refine our theoretical understanding of anchor precision. Implications for decision-making, negotiation, and estimation research are discussed.Read More: https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/soco.2020.38.1.40
AB - Precise numbers are more potent anchors than round ones. Two theoretical mechanisms have been suggested to account for this anchor precision effect: (1) the scale-granularity account postulates that individuals adjust away from the anchor in smaller steps on a finer-grained mental scale, and (2) the attribution-of-competence account postulates that people ascribe more competence to a precise-opening individual. Direct empirical evidence for both accounts is scarce, however, and exists mainly for the attribution-of-competence account in a negotiation context. In two experiments, we examined the two competing mechanisms simultaneously (Experiment 1) and contrasted them in a negotiation and in an estimation context (Experiment 2). Moreover, we developed and validated (Pilot Study) a direct measurement of scale-granularity. Mediation analyses showed that both attribution-of-competence and, for the first time, scale-granularity mediate the anchor-precision effect. The results refine our theoretical understanding of anchor precision. Implications for decision-making, negotiation, and estimation research are discussed.Read More: https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/soco.2020.38.1.40
KW - Business psychology
KW - Anchoring
KW - Anchor precision
KW - scale-granularity
KW - attribution-of-competence
KW - Negotiations
KW - estimations
KW - First offers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091430532&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1521/soco.2020.38.1.40
DO - 10.1521/soco.2020.38.1.40
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 38
SP - 40
EP - 61
JO - Social Cognition
JF - Social Cognition
SN - 0278-016X
IS - 1
ER -