Whom do we prefer to learn from in observational reinforcement learning?

Learning by observing others’ experiences is a hallmark of human intelligence. While the neurocomputational mechanisms underlying observational learning are well understood, less is known about whom people prefer to learn from in the context of observational learning. One hypothesis posits that learners prefer individuals who exhibit a high degree of decision noise, ‘free riding’ on the costly exploration of others. An alternative hypothesis is that learners prefer individuals with low decision noise, as lower decision noise is often associated with better performance. In a preregistered experiment, we found that most participants preferred to learn from low-noise (high-performing) individuals. Furthermore, exploratory analyses revealed that participants who preferred low-noise individuals tended to rely on imitation of others’ actions. These findings offer a potential computational account of how learning styles are related to partner selection in social learning.Author summary: In our daily lives, we often learn by watching others. For example, when starting a new job, we might watch an experienced colleague to learn effective strategies, or an inexperienced coworker to avoid common mistakes. While previous studies have examined how people learn by observing others, less is known about how we decide whom to observe. This study explored whether people prefer to learn from individuals who make consistent choices or those who behave more randomly. At first glance, the answer seems obvious: we would naturally prefer to learn from those who make consistent, reliable decisions. However, there can also be value in learning from someone who behaves unpredictably. For example, when searching for a good restaurant, observing an adventurous friend who tries unfamiliar places might help us discover hidden gems. Despite this potential advantage, we found that most participants preferred consistent decision-makers. Further analysis revealed that participants who favored reliable partners tended to imitate their actions. Our findings suggest that personal learning styles shape partner preferences. These insights could help us understand how people choose whom to learn from in everyday settings like classrooms, or workplaces.