{"title":"On the multiplicative inequality","authors":"William J. McCausland , A.A.J. Marley","doi":"10.1016/j.jmp.2024.102867","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The multiplicative inequality (MI) introduced by Sattath and Tversky (1976) is a rare example of a simple and intuitively appealing condition relating choice probabilities across choice sets of different sizes. It is also a testable implication of two models of stochastic discrete choice: the Elimination by Aspects model of Tversky (1972b) and the independent random utility model. We prove several results on the multiplicative inequality and its relationship to the regularity condition. One major result illustrates how little the MI constrains binary choice probabilities: it implies that every system of binary choice probabilities on a universe of choice objects can be extended to a complete system of choice probabilities satisfying the MI. In this sense, the MI is complementary to axioms for binary choice probabilities, of which many have been proposed. We also discuss choice environments where the multiplicative inequality is implausible.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":50140,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Mathematical Psychology","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 102867"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Mathematical Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022249624000361","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MATHEMATICS, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The multiplicative inequality (MI) introduced by Sattath and Tversky (1976) is a rare example of a simple and intuitively appealing condition relating choice probabilities across choice sets of different sizes. It is also a testable implication of two models of stochastic discrete choice: the Elimination by Aspects model of Tversky (1972b) and the independent random utility model. We prove several results on the multiplicative inequality and its relationship to the regularity condition. One major result illustrates how little the MI constrains binary choice probabilities: it implies that every system of binary choice probabilities on a universe of choice objects can be extended to a complete system of choice probabilities satisfying the MI. In this sense, the MI is complementary to axioms for binary choice probabilities, of which many have been proposed. We also discuss choice environments where the multiplicative inequality is implausible.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Mathematical Psychology includes articles, monographs and reviews, notes and commentaries, and book reviews in all areas of mathematical psychology. Empirical and theoretical contributions are equally welcome.
Areas of special interest include, but are not limited to, fundamental measurement and psychological process models, such as those based upon neural network or information processing concepts. A partial listing of substantive areas covered include sensation and perception, psychophysics, learning and memory, problem solving, judgment and decision-making, and motivation.
The Journal of Mathematical Psychology is affiliated with the Society for Mathematical Psychology.
Research Areas include:
• Models for sensation and perception, learning, memory and thinking
• Fundamental measurement and scaling
• Decision making
• Neural modeling and networks
• Psychophysics and signal detection
• Neuropsychological theories
• Psycholinguistics
• Motivational dynamics
• Animal behavior
• Psychometric theory