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EMNLP Findings2025

A Monte-Carlo Sampling Framework For Reliable Evaluation of Large Language Models Using Behavioral Analysis

Davood Wadi, Marc Fredette

Abstract

Scientific evaluation of Large Language Models is an important topic that quantifies any degree of progress we make with new models. Even though current LLMs show high level of accuracy on benchmark datasets, the single-sample approach to evaluating them is not sufficient as it ignores high entropy of LLM responses. We introduce a Monte-Carlo evaluation framework for evaluating LLMs that follows behavioral science methodologies and provides statistical guarantees for estimates of performance. We test our framework on multiple LLMs to see if they are susceptible to cognitive biases. We find significant effect of prompts that induce cognitive biases in LLMs, raising questions about their reliability in social sciences and business.

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Builds on4

  1. Using Large Language Models to Simulate Multiple Humans and Replicate Human Subject StudiesGati V. Aher, Rosa I. Arriaga, Adam Tauman KalaiICML 2023 · 651 citations
  2. A Contrastive Framework for Neural Text GenerationYixuan Su, Tian Lan, Yan Wang, Dani Yogatama et al.NeurIPS 2022 · 349 citations
  3. Capturing Failures of Large Language Models via Human Cognitive BiasesErik Jones, Jacob SteinhardtNeurIPS 2022 · 154 citations
  4. Cognitive Bias in Decision-Making with LLMsJessica Maria Echterhoff, Yao Liu, Abeer Alessa, Julian J. McAuley et al.EMNLP Findings 2024 · 62 citations

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