Adolescent Decision Making

Abstract

This study examined the impact of mood, age, and gender on decision processes of adolescents and adults. A total of 161 7th through 12th graders and adults completed a computer-administered decision task (choosing a part-time job). Each job varied on eight categories of information. Positive, neutral, and negative moods were induced; participants then used the computer to review information about the jobs. The computer recorded the amount of time spent viewing each piece of information, categories that were discarded, and the sequence of these views. Type of information processing (careful vs. superficial) was affected by mood, but only for females, who discarded more information and took longer to decide in negative vs. positive or neutral moods. Age affected participants’ estimates of the probability of obtaining their desired job and predecision search strategy: Junior high females were more pessimistic about their chances, and adults used more sophisticated decision strategies.

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