Essays in Behavioural Economics - Analysing Cognitive Processes and Understanding Decision-Making - PhD Thesis

Sep 22, 2026

Essays in Behavioural Economics examining how cognitive processes shape decision-making under psychological and informational constraints. The work analyses behavioural responses to dissonant information, including experimental approaches for avoiding such information, the motives underlying (non-)avoidance, and alternative mechanisms driving observed choices. It further studies how saliency, honesty, and competition affect strategic behaviour, demand, and individual versus group outcomes, and addresses failure to accept good advice through controlled adviser selection and outcome comparisons.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPaper Templates

FormatPDF

Pages197

Reading Time1 h 9 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Acknowledgements

Declaration

1 Avoiding Dissonant Information

2 Saliency, Honesty and Competition

3 Failure to Accept Good Advice

References

A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick Permanent WRAP URL: [http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/183364](http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/183364) Copyright and reuse: This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. For more information, please contact [the WRAP Team at:](the WRAP Team at: wrap@warwick.ac.uk)[ ](the WRAP Team at: wrap@warwick.ac.uk)[wrap@warwick.ac.uk](the WRAP Team at: wrap@warwick.ac.uk) Essays in Behavioural Economics: Analysing Cognitive Processes and Understanding Decision-Making by Ceren Beng¨u C¸ıbık Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (Research) to the University of Warwick, Department of Economics July, 2023 Contents List of Figures ................................ i List of Tables ................................. ii Acknowledgements ............................. iv Declaration .................................. v [Abstract](Abstract .................................... vi)[ ....................................](Abstract .................................... vi)[ vi](Abstract .................................... vi) [1 Avoiding Dissonant Information](1 Avoiding Dissonant Information ..................)[ ..................](1 Avoiding Dissonant Information ..................). 1 1.1 Introduction .............................. 1 1.2 Testable Hypotheses ......................... 7 1.3 Experimental Design ......................... 10 1.4 Results ................................. 14 1.4.1 Avoiding Dissonant Information ............... 15 1.4.2 Motives for (not) Avoiding Dissonant Information ..... 26 1.4.3 Alternative Mechanisms ................... 31 1.5 Concluding Remarks ......................... 36 Appendices ................................. 38 Appendix A1-Additional Figures .................. 38 Appendix A2-Additional Tables .................. 44 Appendix A3-First Stage Treatment Manipulation ........ 51 Appendix A4-Secondary Results .................. 51 Appendix A5-Formation of Articles ................ 53 Appendix A6-AEA RCT Registry ................. 54 Appendix A7-Experimental Instructions .............. 54 2 Saliency, Honesty and Competition ................. 93 2.1 Introduction .............................. 93 2.1.1 Contribution to the Related Literature ........... 95 2.2 Theoretical Framework and Hypotheses ............... 97 2.3 Experimental Design ......................... 101 2.4 Results ................................. 105 2.4.1 Group-level Results ...................... 106 2.4.2 Individual-level Results .................... 111 2.4.3 Demand Effect Analysis ................... 115 2.5 Discussion ............................... 116 Appendices ................................. 119 Appendix B1-Additional Tables .................. 119 Appendix B2-Passive vs Active Control .............. 119 Appendix B3-Relevance Filter ................... 120 Appendix B4-Text Analysis of Stories Written by Participants . 123 Appendix B5-AEA RCT Registry ................. 125 Appendix B6-Experimental Instructions .............. 125 3 Failure to Accept Good Advice .................... 139 3.1 Introduction .............................. 139 3.2 Experimental Design ......................... 143 3.2.1 Selecting Advisers ....................... 146 3.3 Results ................................. 146 3.4 Conclusion ............................... 152 Appendices ................................. 155 Appendix C1-Additional Tables .................. 155 Appendix C2-Additional Figures .................. 157 Appendix C3-AEA RCT Registry ................. 157 Appendix C4-Experimental Instructions .............. 157 Ref

FAQs

What topics do these behavioural economics essays cover?

They cover avoiding dissonant information, the roles of saliency, honesty, and competition, and failure to accept good advice.

How is decision-making analysed in the thesis?

The thesis uses behavioural and experimental analyses, including testable hypotheses, experimental design, and results at both group and individual levels.

Does the thesis focus on motives for information-related choices?

Yes. It includes analysis of motives for (not) avoiding dissonant information and related alternative mechanisms.

Sep 22, 2026

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