Cautiousness in adulthood and old age
department or school: Arts, Faculty of
department or school: Psychology, Department of
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCV
creator: Holliday, Stephen George
issued: 2010-02-26T01:14:40Z
issued: 1978
related degree: Master of Arts - MA
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: The present study examined the question of age related cautiousness in decision making. Traditional approaches to the study of age-related patterns of choice behaviour and theoretical explanations of cautiousness in risky choice situations were evaluated. An alternate approach to the study of choice behaviour in different age groups, which emphasizes the role of outcome direction, probabilities, and payoff values was presented. Peoples' preference for completely predictable and probabilistically determined response options was assessed. The sample consisted of 12 men and 12 women in 4 age groups representing young (20-30), middle (35-45) and late (50-60) adulthood, and old age (65-75). The number of completely predictable options chosen by each subject across (1) all situations, (2) gain situations only, and (3) loss situations only were calculated. An analysis of variance performed on the total number of completely predictable options chosen indicated that people of all age groups chose equivalent numbers of certain options. There were no significant effects for age group, sex, nor the age x sex interaction. A repeated measures analysis of variance performed on subjects' scores in gain and loss situations indicated that people chose more completely predictable options in gain than in loss situations. The effects of age group and sex were not significant, nor were the two and three way interactions. A second set of analyses were undertaken to relate subjects' choices to (1) the outcome direction of the situations, and (2) the expected payoff, or outcome, of the situations. Expected payoff was found to be a better predictor of choice behaviour than was outcome direction. The implications of these findings for theories of age-related cautiousness are discussed. It is suggested that theories of adult choice behaviour may have to be modified to account for the impact of situational variables on peoples' choice behaviour.
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/21014
note: CAUTIOUSNESS IN ADULTHOOD AND OLD AGE by STEPHEN GEORGE HOLLIDAY B.Sc. Northern Michigan Un i v e r s i t y , 1975 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS i n THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES Department of Psychology We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA October 1978 (c) Stephen George Holliday, 1978 In presenting t h i s thesis in p a r t i a l fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of B r i t i s h Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it f r e e l y available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the Head of my Department or by his representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for f i n a n c i a l gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of Psychology The University of B r i t i s h Columbia 2075 Wesbrook Place Vancouver, Canada V6T 1W5 Orrober 2,7, 1978 i i ABSTRACT The present study examined the question of age r e l a t e d cautiousness i n decision making. T r a d i t i o n a l approaches to the study of age-rel a t e d patterns of choice behaviour and t h e o r e t i c a l explanations of cautiousness i n r i s k y choice s i t u a t i o n s were evaluated. An alternate approach to the study of choice behaviour i n d i f f e r e n t age groups, which emphasizes the r o l e of outcome d i r e c t i o n , p r o b a b i l i t i e s , and payoff values was presented. Peoples' preference for completely predictable and p r o b a b i l i s t i -c a l l y determined response options was assessed. The sample consisted of 12 men and 12 women i n 4 age groups representing young (20-30), middle (35-45) and l a t e (50-60) adulthood, and old age (65-75). The number of completely predictable options chosen by each sub-j e c t across (1) a l l s i t u a t i o n s , (2) g…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0094411
language: eng
degree discipline: Psychology
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
scholar level: Graduate
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/21014