How the Alternative Explanation Affects Satisfaction with the Target Explanation

Abstract People often seek explanations for the occurrence of certain events. Therefore, they may encounter an alternative explanation that conflicts with the original, such as a second opinion on a medical diagnosis. This study investigated two hypotheses on how an alternative explanation affects satisfaction with the original explanation. One hypothesis posits that satisfaction with the original explanation varies according to the quality of the alternative explanation. The other hypothesis suggests that the presence of an alternative explanation decreases satisfaction with the original, regardless of quality. The experiment was conducted with 72 participants using a between‐subjects design with two conditions, in which only the original explanation was provided, or both the original explanation and an alternative explanation were presented. The quality of the alternative explanation was manipulated by virtue (Simplicity, Scope, and Latent scope) to determine whether it was normatively superior or inferior to the original explanation. The results showed that satisfaction was generally lower when an alternative explanation was presented, regardless of quality. However, original explanations with Latent scope did not fit either hypothesis but could be interpreted using the breadth of Scope.