Brown, Victoria L. (2020) Save time or save a life: Speed-accuracy trade-off within medical decision making. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Medical error is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. However, the cognitive processes underlying medical error are still unknown. This study aimed to determine whether a speed-accuracy trade-off is present within medical information processing and decision making. Based on previous literature, which is scarce, the speed accuracy trade-off has never been investigated previously within a medical context before. Based on the framework of the dual-process theory, when deciding whether to use an analytical or intuitive process for a decision choice, there is a sacrifice between the speed of response and accuracy of choice made. The speed-accuracy behaviour is assumed to be evident in the medical context, while also accounting for encompassing predictors of affect and academic influence. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 549 participants of the general public. It was hypothesised that a positive speed-accuracy trade-off would be present for both medical interpretation decision tasks. Although a significant relationship was found between response time and accuracy score, this hypothesis was not supported. Instead, the results suggested an influence of perceptual learning on the scores obtained in the tasks. The affective state of individuals did, however, exhibit a significant relationship on the outcome of response time and accuracy score, implying future experimental directions for research. This study highlighted the importance of understanding different processes that are involved in the uncertainty of decisions that medical professionals are making in their daily lives for the outcome of others' lives.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Michael Ireland |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Jul 2025 06:23 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Jul 2025 06:23 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Medical decision-making; speed-accuracy; medical error; emotion; dual-process. |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52185 |
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