Age Differences in Choice Deferrals as Functions of Interattribute Conflict and Decision Domain

The primary purpose of the present study was to examine age differences in choice deferral when young and older adults make high vs. low conflict decisions in two domains (i.e., health and commodity). Sixty young and 60 older adults were presented with four different decision scenarios in which they could either choose an option or use choice deferral (i.e., not choose any of the options for the time being). The high conflict decisions had negative interattribute correlations, while the low conflict decisions had positive interattribute correlations. Older adults were more likely than young adults to choose the deferral option across domains. Participants were more likely to choose the deferral option when making high conflict decisions than when making low conflict decisions. For older adults, an increase in postdecision positive affect was greater for those who deferred choice than for those who did not defer choice in the commodity domain. Implications were discussed in terms of real-life decision making of older adults.     

The quantity versus the distribution of teacher behavior

The overall quantity and distribution of teacher interaction are the respective concerns of research on teacher effectiveness and research on teacher expectations. Factors that have kept both these research areas and their applications to teacher education distinct are considered. Limitations of teacher education programs that deal with either the quantity or distribution of teacher behavior are noted. Next, research that examines both indices of teacher behavior is considered. The paper ends with suggestions for how the content and sequencing of teacher education programs could benefit from an integration of quantity and distribution concerns.