The Influence of Verbatim Versus Gist Formatting on Younger and Older Adults' Information Acquisition and Decision-Making

Fuzzy-Trace Theory suggests that decision makers encode gist representations (bottom-line meaning) and verbatim representations (details) of information but rely more on gist, a tendency that increases with age. The present study examined implications for age differences in information seeking and decision-making by presenting gist and verbatim formatted choice scenarios. Participants comprised 68 younger and 66 older adults. Predecisional information seeking, indices of decision outcomes and recall, and relevant covariates were assessed. In line with theory, older adults self-reported and demonstrated stronger preferences for gist-based processing than younger adults did. Consistent with hypotheses, the total number of reviewed grid cells (including repeat views) was higher for gist than verbatim conditions, and this effect was stronger among older adults. Also, the proportion of unique cells reviewed and the accuracy of decision attribute recall were higher in the verbatim than gist condition and these effects were stronger among younger versus older adults. Further, gist formatting was associated with stronger use of option-wise information search, more value-concordant decisions (i.e., choices aligning with self-reported choice preferences), and decreased choice satisfaction, but these effects did not vary by age. Covariates, including information-processing preferences, partially accounted for these effects. Consistent with Fuzzy-Trace Theory, this suggests that information formatting and preferences modulate age differences in predecisional information acquisition: Depending on age, using either verbatim or gist formatting to communicate information can offer different benefits. Across age groups, however, gist formatting may facilitate value-concordant (and arguably higher-quality) decision-making.