An Experiment on Reinforcement Learning and Belief Learning

By Mark Walker

Abstract

The differing informational requirements of reinforcement learning models and belief-based learning models are developed. Then, in a game in with a unique equilibrium in mixed strategies, subjects are given choices between "reinforcement" information and "belief" information. The experimental results strongly suggest that subjects were not behaving according to reinforcement models: they chose information that would support belief-based learning behavior but not reinforcement learning behavior.

Co-author Todd Swarthout