Abstract
Using a computer-based, information acquisition process tracing task (MouselabWEB), participants (N = 100) were presented with varying types and amounts of information and were tasked with choosing a mental health professional (MHP). Results of this lab-based study indicated that the tendency to engage in heuristically-driven decision-making process increases as MHP choice and cognitive burden increases. When MHP choices are limited, participants tend to acquire information on MHP’s age, treatment orientation, education, and years of experience. As MHP choices increase, MHP gender and ethnicity information were utilized the most, and education and years of experience utilized the least.
Disclosure statement
The author declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Ethics approval
Institutional Review Board reviewed and approved research protocol prior to participant recruitment.
Funding statement
No funding received.
Data availability
Computer codes and analysis syntax are made available as Supplemental Material in this manuscript. Deidentified data and data dictionary will be made available in the personal website.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Antover P. Tuliao
Dr. Tuliao’s research interest broadly focuses on substance use disorders, in particular its underlying mechanism, treatment, and reduction/prevention of substance use-related harm. Working under the assumption that SUD is an executive control dysfunction, his research focuses on biases in decisional processes that drive the inability to control both substance use and subsequent problematic behavior. Dr. Tuliao’s current research projects include examining decisional processes involved in improving access to mental health services. In addition to decision processes, Dr. Tuliao also studies the impact of culture on SUD, its symptom expression, and treatment. He believes that understanding cultural factors could inform SUD treatment and improve help-seeking behaviors and treatment utilization.