The ambiguity effect is the tendency for people to avoid options when the probability of a favorable outcome is unknown.
Is it true that the ambiguity effect is the tendency for people to avoid options when the probability of a favorable outcome is unknown?
Yes. The retrieved literature consistently supports the definition of the ambiguity effect, demonstrating that individuals generally tend to avoid options involving unknown outcome probabilities.
Verdict: SUPPORTED · 9 sources for, 0 against · Last checked
The retrieved papers uniformly corroborate the classical definition and presence of the ambiguity effect—the tendency to avoid choices involving unknown probability distributions (ambiguity aversion). Multiple studies (e.g., [0], [3], [10]) explicitly describe and build upon this behavioral tendency using Ellsberg tasks or decision-making paradigms under uncertainty. None of the papers refute the core definition; therefore, the claim is well-supported.
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Güney, Ş. & Newell, B. R. (2014). Overcoming Ambiguity Aversion Through Experience. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.1840
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Liu, H. (2011). Impact of regulatory focus on ambiguity aversion. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.702
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JO, L., H, M., SM, Z., E, J., & JW, H. (2024). Neural correlates of reward valuation in individuals with nonsuicidal self-injury under uncertainty.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291724001363
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N, L., JA, A., & JB, G. (2025). Risk behind the veil of ambiguity: Decision-making under social and nonsocial sources of uncertainty.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.70081
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Liu, H. (2011). Task formats and ambiguity aversion. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.696
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LS, G. C. & KM, L. (2025). Negative news exposure does not affect risk or ambiguity aversion.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1485346
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AM, C., E, M., I, M., PM, C., F, S., & L, S. (2024). Integrative and syntactic complexity's role in decision-making under uncertainty.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1450703
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Y, Q., N, R., N, L., & P, S. (2026). Pupil and Neural Dynamics Reveal Belief-Dependent Decision Making Under Ambiguity. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.21.719818
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JA, R., JB, P., RP, M., WMP, K., PE, C., & PKJ, H. (2026). Resistance to a Novel Clinical Trial Design for Multicancer Detection Tests: Experimental Investigation of Ambiguity Aversion.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1177/23814683261477027
What does the evidence say?
The retrieved papers uniformly corroborate the classical definition and presence of the ambiguity effect—the tendency to avoid choices involving unknown probability distributions (ambiguity aversion). Multiple studies (e.g., [0], [3], [10]) explicitly describe and build upon this behavioral tendency using Ellsberg tasks or decision-making paradigms under uncertainty. None of the papers refute the core definition; therefore, the claim is well-supported.
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