Predicting soccer matches after unconscious and conscious thought as a function of expertise

Psychol Sci. 2009 Nov;20(11):1381-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02451.x. Epub 2009 Oct 8.

Abstract

In two experiments, we investigated the effects of expertise and mode of thought on the accuracy of people's predictions. Both experts and nonexperts predicted the results of soccer matches after conscious thought, after unconscious thought, or immediately. In Experiment 1, experts who thought unconsciously outperformed participants in all other conditions. Whereas unconscious thinkers showed a correlation between expertise and accuracy of prediction, no such relation was observed for conscious thinkers or for immediate decision makers. In Experiment 2, this general pattern was replicated. In addition, experts who thought unconsciously were better at applying diagnostic information than experts who thought consciously or who decided immediately. The results are consistent with unconscious-thought theory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Awareness*
  • Competitive Behavior*
  • Decision Making
  • Humans
  • Judgment*
  • Netherlands
  • Probability Learning
  • Professional Competence*
  • Soccer / psychology*
  • Thinking*
  • Unconscious, Psychology*