Using crowdsourcing to compare temporal, social temporal, and probability discounting among obese and non-obese individuals

Abstract

Previous research comparing obese and non-obese samples on the delayed discounting procedure has produced mixed results. The aim of the current study was to clarify these discrepant findings by comparing a variety of temporal discounting measures in a large sample of internet users (n = 1163) obtained from a crowdsourcing service, Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT). Measures of temporal, social–temporal (a combination of standard and social temporal), and probability discounting were obtained. Significant differences were obtained on all discounting measures except probability discounting, but the obtained effect sizes were small. These data suggest that larger-N studies will be more likely to detect differences between obese and non-obese samples, and may afford the opportunity, in future studies, to decompose a large obese sample into different subgroups to examine the effect of other relevant measures, such as the reinforcing value of food, on discounting.

Can't wait to lose weight? Characterizing temporal discounting parameters for weight-loss

“…Third, our exploratory correlational analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between impulsivity measured by the MCQ and negative attitude towards obesity (AFA: dislike). Given that several previous studies showed positive correlations between BMI and MCQ (Bickel, et al, 2014; Borghans & Golsteyn, 2006; Ikeda, et al, 2010; Jarmolowicz, et al, 2014; Weller, et al, 2008), it might be partly related to a self-serving bias. Our study alone cannot provide a clear answer.…”

“…Indeed, scientific evidence is accumulating for the strong relation between temporal discounting and body mass. People carrying excess body weight, meaning those of greater body mass index (BMI), are more likely to choose smaller, more immediate monetary rewards (Bickel, et al, 2014; Borghans & Golsteyn, 2006; Ikeda, Kang, & Ohtake, 2010; Jarmolowicz, et al, 2014; Weller, Cook, Avsar, & Cox, 2008). …”

No food for thought: moderating effects of delay discounting and future time perspective on the relation between income and food insecurity , , ,

“…mTurk has been used previously as a means to examine delay discounting in the obese (18). Exclusionary criteria were violating criteria for valid delay-discounting values on the delaydiscounting task (19), being a student, or receiving money from Virginia Tech through employment or for any other reason including study participation in the previous year.…”

Robust relation between temporal discounting rates and body mass

“…To date, the relations between temporal discounting rate and body mass are mixed. Some studies show that people with higher body mass discount more rapidly than those with lower body mass (Ikeda et al, 2010; Borghans et al, 2006; Bickel et al, in press). This relation, however, is typically demonstrated only in females (Davis et al, 2010; Fields et al, 2013; Weller et al, 2008) and was absent in a number of other studies (Manwaring et al, 2011; Nederkoorn et al, 2006).…”