Effects of increasing failure and success on military and economic risk taking.

Investigated the effect of success, failure, and time spent in decision making on the degree of military and economic risk taking. A complex experimental simulation technique was employed as the research method to permit comparison of data obtained in a more "real world-like" setting with results reported by investigators using small-scale laboratory techniques. Results from 88 undergraduates show that risk taking increases with the length of time that decision-making groups spend in working on a task. After some time, risky decision making may become concentrated in 1 decision area at a time, even though risks could be taken in more areas. Comparisons to laboratory results suggest some commonalities and differences with regard to risk-taking results. (37 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)