The effects of information load and information diversity on decision quality in a structured decision task

The major objective of this research was to study the effects of information load and diversity on decision quality in a structured decision task. The concept of information load was subdivided into the concepts of (1) quantity of repeated dimensions and (2) quantity of different dimensions. The latter concept was called information diversity. Two other independent variables studied were task learning and decision experience. Decision quality was operationalized to decision accuracy and time. It was hypothesized that the relationship between the quantity of repeated dimensions and accuracy would be an inverted U curve, and that repeated dimensions and time would produce a U curve. The initial rise in the accuracy curve and fall in the time curve did not occur in the results but the remainder of the curves were largely supported. There were exceptions, however, that require further investigation. It was further hypothesized that higher diversity would result in lower accuracy and higher time, and that higher learning and experience would both result in higher accuracy and lower time. These hypotheses were also largely supported by the results. Again there were exceptions that require clarification. The results also showed a number of interesting interactions between variables. The practical implications of these findings for accounting and information systems were outlined.

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