Continuous measures of decision-difficulty captured remotely: Mouse-tracking sensitivity extends to tablets and smartphones

Abstract

As decisions require actions to have an effect on the world, measures derived from movements such as using a mouse to control a cursor on a screen provide powerful and dynamic indices of decision-making. By adapting classic reach-decision paradigms and deploying them across computers, tablets, and smartphones, we show that portable touch-devices can sensitively capture decision-difficulty. We see this in pre- and during-movement temporal and motoric measures across diverse decision domains. We found touchscreen interactions to more sensitively reflect decision-difficulty during movement compared to computer interactions, and the latter to be more sensitive before movement initiation. Paired with additional evidence for the flexibility and unique utility of pre- and during-movement measures, this substantiates the use of widely available touch-devices to massively extend the reach of decision science. • Mouse-tracking during choice tasks charts decision difficulty differences over time. • Tablets and smartphones show similar sensitivity but resemble real-world interactions. • Computers show better sensitivity pre-movement; touch devices during-movement. • Pre- and during-movement measures offer flexible, non-redundant decision information. • Remote data collection from consumer devices extends the reach of decision science.

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