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The Stoplight Task: A Procedure for Assessing Risk Taking in Humans

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Abstract

The Stoplight Task, a procedure involving a computer analog of a stoplight, was evaluated for assessing risk taking in humans. Seventeen participants earned points later exchangeable for money by completing a response requirement before the red light appeared on a simulated traffic light. The green light signaled to start responding; it changed to yellow at different points into the response requirement. The yellow light, which varied unpredictably in duration, was eventually replaced with a red light. Participants could stop or continue responding when the yellow light appeared. Stopping protected earnings; completing the response requirement before the red light earned money; continuing but failing to complete the response requirement before the red light appeared could result in money loss with 12.5% or 100% probability. The probability of risk taking (running the yellow) was lower when the probability of monetary loss was 100% and when the yellow light appeared early in the completion of the response requirement. Participants scoring higher on risk-taking and impulsivity personality rating scales behaved ‘riskier’ in the stoplight task. Potential applications of the Stoplight Task are suggested.

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Correspondence to Mark P. Reilly.

Additional information

This research was supported by grants from NIH/NIDA DA10239 and DA00485. We thank Ed Bunker, who implemented the software code for the stoplight task, and Joseph Brady, whose work inspired this human experimental model.

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Reilly, M.P., Greenwald, M.K. & Johanson, CE. The Stoplight Task: A Procedure for Assessing Risk Taking in Humans. Psychol Rec 56, 191–203 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395544

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395544

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