Introduction
The number of adults over the age of 65 in the United States has drastically increased in the last few decades. In 1970, 9.8% of the United States population was 65 and older, in 2010 13%, and by 2030 more than 20% of the United States population is projected to be 65 years of age and older (Ortman, Velkoff, & Hogan, 2014). Consequently, the problems and challenges of aging are an important societal concern. Age-related normal and pathologic cognitive changes have been well documented in the scientific literature (Harada, Natelson Love, & Triebel, 2013); and while researchers have devoted effort investigating the how’s and why’s of age-related changes in memory processes, limited research has investigated how aging-related memory changes effects judgment and decision making (J/DM; Del Missier, Mantyla, & Nilsson, 2015). …show more content…
Young adults are more likely to rely on systematic decision-making while older adults are more likely to engage in heuristic decision-making (e.g., Johnson, 1990). Research on cognitive aging generally agrees that as adults age, they experience age-related declines in working memory, speed of processing, long-term memory, and reasoning (cite). Additionally, as cognitive tasks become more difficult or demanding, age differences in performance increase (cite). In order to compensate for these age-related deficits, heuristic decision-making reduces cognitive demand which may be more optimal for older adults (e.g., Shah & Oppenheimer,
The number of adults over the age of 65 in the United States has drastically increased in the last few decades. In 1970, 9.8% of the United States population was 65 and older, in 2010 13%, and by 2030 more than 20% of the United States population is projected to be 65 years of age and older (Ortman, Velkoff, & Hogan, 2014). Consequently, the problems and challenges of aging are an important societal concern. Age-related normal and pathologic cognitive changes have been well documented in the scientific literature (Harada, Natelson Love, & Triebel, 2013); and while researchers have devoted effort investigating the how’s and why’s of age-related changes in memory processes, limited research has investigated how aging-related memory changes effects judgment and decision making (J/DM; Del Missier, Mantyla, & Nilsson, 2015). …show more content…
Young adults are more likely to rely on systematic decision-making while older adults are more likely to engage in heuristic decision-making (e.g., Johnson, 1990). Research on cognitive aging generally agrees that as adults age, they experience age-related declines in working memory, speed of processing, long-term memory, and reasoning (cite). Additionally, as cognitive tasks become more difficult or demanding, age differences in performance increase (cite). In order to compensate for these age-related deficits, heuristic decision-making reduces cognitive demand which may be more optimal for older adults (e.g., Shah & Oppenheimer,