Mayr, UlrichMoss, MelissaDudukovic, NicoleByers, Ali2022-07-122022-07-122022https://hdl.handle.net/1794/27275Successfully navigating unfamiliar environments requires the ability to accurately update and apply a valid mental model of the environment to influence the next best move, and switch to other strategies if necessary. Recent research by Kikumoto & Mayr (2019) has shown that in competitive situations, humans employ model-based choice strategy following immediate positive feedback, but revert to random, stochastic choices following negative feedback. In this study, we attempt to recreate the results these authors found, but in a noncompetitive context. In one experiment measuring human subjects’ likelihood to switch tasks based on positive or negative feedback, we find similar results; participants will make mental models of an unfamiliar situation and repeat an action when rewarded with positive outcomes, but revert to a stochastic choice strategy when faced with negative outcomes, suggesting that this phenomenon is a general cognitive strategy in navigating unfamiliar environments and not exclusive to competition alone.en-USCC BY-NC-ND 4.0psychologyneuroscienceworking memorycompetitive pressureThesis/Dissertation0000-0002-1674-8473