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Aspiration and Survival in “Jeopardy!”

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  • Elizabeth Boyle
  • Zur Shapira

Abstract

Behavior in dynamic competitive situations requires decision makers to evaluate their own as well as their competitors’ positions. This paper uses data from a realistic competitive risk taking setting, Jeopardy’s Tournament of Champions, to test whether individual players choose the strategic best response in making their betting decisions. The analyses show that the percentage of players choosing the strategic best response is very low, a rather surprising finding because the Tournament of Champions is contested by the very best and most experienced players of the Jeopardy game. We conjecture that performance aspiration and survival targets guide risk-taking behavior in competitive situations. Furthermore, in situations where decisions are made under pressure, contestants tend to focus on one target while ignoring alternative targets and the choices that are available to their competitors. This may lead them to select inferior competitive strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Boyle & Zur Shapira, 2003. "Aspiration and Survival in “Jeopardy!”," Discussion Paper Series dp331, The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, revised Mar 2006.
    • Handle: RePEc:huj:dispap:dp331
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    File URL: http://ratio.huji.ac.il/sites/default/files/publications/dp331.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2003
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    File URL: http://ratio.huji.ac.il/sites/default/files/publications/dp417.pdf
    File Function: Revised version, 1998
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Ordonez, Lisa & Benson, Lehman, 1997. "Decisions under Time Pressure: How Time Constraint Affects Risky Decision Making," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 121-140, August.
    4. Nalebuff, Barry, 1990. "Slot Machines, Zomepirac, Squash, and More," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 4(1), pages 179-187, Winter.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

    competitive decision-making; decision theory; risk;
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