The effect of information selection, information processing and task complexity on predictive accuracy of auditors

This study reports the results of an experiment involving 100 auditors who were assigned to experimental conditions created by crossing information selection and information processing by information load. Information selection was found to be a limiting factor in determining predictive accuracy, with information processing being a limiting factor for the higher information load groups. Audit experience was found to mitigate some of the limitations arising from information selection, but not from information processing. Further analysis found information selection and information load to have little effect on confidence assessments, and observed calibration differences were associated with variations in decision accuracy. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.