Abstract

Individual differences, such as personality, trait anxiety, ADHD-like symptomology, and mood, have shown individual relationships with performance on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). However, there is much conflict present in the literature regarding the nature of these relationships, and the literature focuses on overall performance rather than performance over time. The current study investigated how these individual differences all work together to predict specific choices as trials progress. To accomplish this, a modified Exploitation and Exploration with forgetting (EEF) model with the parameters forgetting, gain sensitivity, loss sensitivity, exploring, and consistency was implemented. Individual differences were fitted to parameters to predict individual choices. Ultimately, individual differences, through forgetting, gain sensitivity, loss sensitivity, and consistency, were able to predict individual choices with around 50% accuracy. From these results, it can be discerned that higher extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, ADHD-like symptomology, and negative mood leave a person more susceptible to risky choices and higher openness and positive mood leave a person less susceptible to risky choices. Riskier choices may be related to an increased predisposition to addictive behaviors; thus, these individual differences may relate to predispositions to conditions such as substance abuse disorder and gambling disorder.

Advisor

Foster, Nathan

Second Advisor

Kelvey, Robert

Department

Mathematics; Psychology

Disciplines

Applied Statistics | Cognitive Psychology | Other Applied Mathematics

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

Download

Share

COinS
 

© Copyright 2026 Taylor Stalnaker