Abstract
One possible consequence of cognitive aging may be a shift in decision-making style from one where all possible options are carefully examined (maximizing) to one where the first "good enough" option is selected (satisficing). Data from 95 older (63-83 years) adults on the Japanese version of Schwartz's (2002) Maximizer-Satisficer Scale and the AIST cognitive aging test battery were analyzed. A factor analysis of the Maximizer-Satisficer Scale suggested two measures, one of maximizing tendencies in general decision making scenarios and one of maximizing tendencies in consumer situations in particular. The results showed that 1) the consumer-maximizing scores were unrelated with cognitive test scores, but 2) that general-maximizing scores were weakly but significantly correlated with task-switching and behavior listing-up, although there were no relations with visual attention/searching tasks. The results combined with younger-older adults comparison analysis (Harada, et. al., 2008) imply that consumer-maximizing and general-maximizing reflect different constructs.
