Computational Mechanisms of Attribute Translations

This research project aims at replicating and extending previous findings regarding the behavioral, attentional, and cognitive effects of the behavior intervention technique attribute translations (Mertens et al., 2020; Oberbauer et al., 2025). Participants will complete a hypothetical consumer choice task on two sessions where they will be asked to choose between washing machine appliances. In session one, participants will receive information about the price, consumption, and popularity of the appliances. In session two, participants will be randomly assigned to one of several groups and either receive the same information as on session one (control) or receive attribute translations (either in addition to or instead of consumption information). We expect to replicate behavioral, attentional, and cognitive effects described in Oberbauer et al. (2025) for groups that receive attribute translations in addition to the original attribute and explore whether these effects differ when the attribute translation replaces the original attribute.