Counterfactual Thinking and the Monty Hall Problem: When Previous Self-Regulation Improves Learning

This study was designed to test whether engaging in a prior act of self-regulation can improve learning on the Monty Hall Problem. Participants were randomly assigned to write about a recent trip either without using words containing A’s or N’s or without this restriction. Participants then completed 30 trials of the Monty Hall Problem. Engaging in a prior act of self-regulation was expected to improve performance by reducing biased counterfactual thinking and biased memory for switch losses over stay losses. This study failed to find support for these predictions.