Cognitive Biases in Governing: Technology Preferences in Election Administration

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Moynihan, Donald P.; Lavertu, Stephane
• 署名单位: University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Madison; University System of Ohio; Ohio State University
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3352
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6210.2011.02478.x
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 68-77
• 关键词: building secure; systems; PSYCHOLOGY; VOTE

摘要

Cognitive biases are heuristics that shape individual preferences and decisions in a way that is at odds with means-end rationality. The effects of cognitive biases on governing are underexplored. The authors study how election administrators cognitive biases shape their preferences for e-voting technology using data from a national survey of local election officials. The technology acceptance model, which employs a rational, means-end perspective, suggests that the perceived benefits of e-voting machines explain their popularity. But findings indicate that cognitive biases also play a role, even after controlling for the perceived benefits and costs of the technology. The findings point to a novel cognitive bias that is of particular interest to research on e-government: officials who have a general faith in technology are attracted to more innovative alternatives. The authors also find that local election officials who prefer e-voting machines do so in part because they overvalue the technology they already possess and because they are overly confident in their own judgment.