The evaluation of time-dependent attributes

This study investigated time-dependent attributes; that is, those not known during use but where the passage of time reveals information about the attribute. In a lab experiment, subjects were asked to try out a new home banking system. Two independent variables were manipulated: (a) the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of a bank transaction, and (b) whether the information about accuracy was revealed immediately or after a delay. An unknown time-dependent attribute (i.e., accuracy of fee charges) was evaluated more favorably when a highly correlated attribute, transaction accuracy, was also evaluated positively. When the attributes were not highly correlated, there was an interactive effect of information about transaction accuracy and the time when this information was revealed on evaluations of time-dependent attributes. Generally, information that was received with delay influenced the evaluation of time-dependent attributes, but information received immediately did not.