title: Individual differences in adult decision-making competence.
abstract: The authors evaluated the reliability and validity of a set of 7 behavioral decision-making tasks, measuring different aspects of the decision-making process. The tasks were administered to individuals from diverse populations. Participants showed relatively consistent performance within and across the 7 tasks, which were then aggregated into an Adult Decision-Making Competence (A-DMC) index that showed good reliability. The validity of the 7 tasks and of overall A-DMC emerges in significant relationships with measures of socioeconomic status, cognitive ability, and decision-making styles. Participants who performed better on the A-DMC were less likely to report negative life events indicative of poor decision making, as measured by the Decision Outcomes Inventory. Significant predictive validity remains when controlling for demographic measures, measures of cognitive ability, and constructive decision-making styles. Thus, A-DMC appears to be a distinct construct relevant to adults' real-world decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University.
authors.forename: Wändi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1601-789X
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bruine de Bruin
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7511-0894
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University.
authors.forename: Baruch
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3030-6874
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischhoff
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001076:Aptitude; D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007360:Intelligence; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012945:Social Values; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors