On Experimental Instructions and the Inducement of Time Pressure Behavior

Abstract

Deadlines seem to have different effects on human activities. For example, when located far in the distant future, they may slow down a decision or a problem-solving process because there is so much time available. When the deadline for the completion of a task is closer, it may speed up and make the solution process more efficient. However, when still closer, deadlines may alter decision or problem-solving processes resulting on some occasions in inferior outcomes; on other occasions improvements result as compared with situations when more time is available (cf. the review by Edland and Svenson, this volume; Payne et al., 1992).