Investigating Delay in Health Related Decision Making Versus Non-Health Decision Making

Health and non-health decision domains were examined to explore the differences in decision domain and delay preferences. Using an existing cognitive theory of delay (Bastardi & Shafir, 1998; Tykocinski & Ruffle, 2003), type of scenario (health vs. nonhealth) was manipulated within subjects with participants receiving three scenarios of each type. Certainty (certain vs. uncertain) and delay choice condition (no delay, delay, one-week delay) were manipulated between subjects. This resulted in a 2 (health) X 2 (certainty) X 3 (delay choice) split-plot factorial design. The dependent measure was the proportion of action responses (deciding to change status quo) across the three scenarios. More people made active decisions in health related decisions than in non-health related decisions (p & .001). When given the opportunity to delay, significantly less people chose to make an active decision (p & .001) regardless of decision domain. There was no significant difference in the amount of delay (one day or one week).