Patterns in the Lottery Game

• Autorzy: Norbert Becser , Zita Zoltay-Paprika
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The present study is based on the analysis and results of a close to 5 years' study in the frame which we used a "Lottery Game" in the "Decision Making Skills" subject taught at Corvinus Business School, Corvinus University of Budapest. In the frame of the "game", the students (Hungarians (n=231) and foreigners (n=267) alike) have to mark 6 numbers on a 7x7 lottery ticket. The winner is the student whose numbers differ the most from those of all the other students'. Upon analyzing the results (irrespectively of nationality) the authors have noted something notable: the winning combinations - rather than being located randomly on the ticket, characteristically resemble a geometric form. In our study we wanted to detect the relevance of geometry in this kind of choices. It is hypothesized that in such games (lottery type, related to numeric combination choice), where the players decide upon their strategy (choice of numbers) by also taking into consideration others' expected choices, the winning strategy is characteristically some consciously chosen scheme or pattern as opposed to a random one. The study presents the results of the available samples (Hungarian students: n=231, foreign students: n=267), the winning combinations, the most often designated numbers, as well as the least "popular" numbers and their presentation on a "heat map". In the case of the majority of the winning tickets we found the use of conscious strategic choice to be more useful. These conscious strategic decisions were reflected in identifiable geometric forms. Based on the results, we hypothesize that in the "hidden lottery" game - in contrast with random choice - the most effective strategy of choice is the conscious ordered one in which the player marks the numbers on the lottery ticket in some modified geometric pattern. The goal of the paper is to propose further research on the field. (original abstract)

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Analysis of random processes; Strategy formulation; Educational games; Students

PL

Analiza procesów losowych; Formułowanie strategii; Gry dydaktyczne; Studenci

• Czasopismo: Forum Scientiae Oeconomia
• Rocznik: 2016
• Tom: 4
• Numer: nr 1 Contemporary Innovations and Management Challenges
• Strony: 55--70

Twórcy

autor

Norbert Becser

• Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary

autor

Zita Zoltay-Paprika

• Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary

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