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Heaping at Round Numbers on Financial Questions : The Role of Satisficing

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Abstract

Survey responses to quantitative financial questions frequently display strong patterns of heaping at round numbers. This paper uses two studies to examine variation in rounding across questions and by individual characteristics. Rounding was more common for respondents low in ability, for respondents low in motivation, and for more difficult questions, all consistent with theories of satisficing. Questions that require more difficult information retrieval and integration of information exhibit more heaping. The use of records, which lowers task difficulty, reduces rounding as well. Higher episodic memory is associated with less rounding, and standard measures of motivation are negatively associated with rounding. These relationships, along with the fact that longer response latencies are associated with less rounding, all support the idea that rounding is a manifestation of satisficing on open-ended financial questions. Rounding patterns also appear remarkably similar across the two studies, despite being fielded in different modes and employing different question order and wording.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Gideon & Brooke Helppie-McFall & Joanne W. Hsu, 2017. "Heaping at Round Numbers on Financial Questions : The Role of Satisficing," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2017-006, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedgfe:2017-06
    DOI: 10.17016/FEDS.2017.006
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    Cited by:

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    10. Maxime Phillot & Rina Rosenblatt-Wisch, 2024. "Order Matters: An Experimental Study on How Question Ordering Affects Survey-Based Inflation Forecasts," International Journal of Central Banking, International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 20(3), pages 63-114, July.
    11. Yoshikawa, Shunta & Maruyama, Takuya, 2025. "Extended Whipple’s index approach to analyze proxy response and rounding in travel surveys," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
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    13. Philip E Hulme & Danish A Ahmed & Phillip J Haubrock & Brooks A Kaiser & Melina Kourantidou & Boris Leroy & Shana M Mcdermott, 2024. "Widespread imprecision in estimates of the economic costs of invasive alien species worldwide," Post-Print hal-04633043, HAL.

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    JEL classification:

    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods

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