Awareness-based choice selection: improving the decision-making efficiency by using known information
Current Psychology June 20, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-025-08072-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational survey (online survey with experimental tasks) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 204 |
| Population | Online survey participants |
| Key findings | Attention could be directed to specific subjects in 59 to 73 percent of cases, and awareness-based choice selection significantly improved decision accuracy relative to random selection or automatic responses. Repeating information without focused attention did not produce meaningful accuracy gains. The authors argue that knowledge alone is insufficient and that conscious awareness of relevant information is critical for effective decisions. |
Abstract
Consciousness is often understood as a state of being aware of oneself and the environment. Building on the Trilogy Theory of Consciousness, this study investigates how the selection of choices based on awareness and the intentional focus on specific information contribute to improving decision-making efficiency. The research draws connections to established theories of consciousness, such as the Global Workspace Theory and Integrated Information Theory, which emphasize the importance of integration and selective processing of information in conscious experience. An online survey involving 204 participants was conducted to examine whether subtle cues could guide attention and enhance decision-making accuracy. Participants were exposed to structured information followed by tasks designed to measure both attention and recall. Their responses were statistically analyzed to evaluate the influence of awareness-based mechanisms. The study demonstrated that attention could be successfully directed to specific subjects in 59 to 73 percent of cases. Furthermore, selecting choices based on awareness significantly improved decision accuracy compared to random selection or responses driven by automatic processes. In contrast, simply repeating information without focused attention did not lead to meaningful gains in accuracy. This study suggests that knowledge alone is not sufficient for effective decision-making. Instead, conscious awareness of relevant information plays a critical role in enhancing decision outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of awareness-driven processes and have broader implications for understanding decision-making in natural and artificial systems.