Behavior in the analysis of reason based collective decisions: biases and effects around the discursive dilemma

Abstract

The discursive dilemma is a paradoxical result that can arise in collective decisions and consists of an incompatibility that may arise from the aggregation of opinions of individuals about a decision (aggregation of conclusions) relative to the aggregation of their opinions on the relevant elements of judgment (aggregation of premises). Although this dilemma has led to profuse normative discussions, few empirical investigations have been conducted to study people's procedural preferences when they face the dilemma. Here we review the scarce but illuminating experimental studies around framing effects and biases, such as indulgence, confirmation, and compliance with social norms, which influence the choice of a procedure in the context of the discursive dilemma.