Children's adaptive decision making and the costs of information search

Abstract Not all information is equally relevant for making good choices. Do children find it difficult to use information weights for an adaptive information search because of their insensitivity towards search costs? To address this question, we used an information-board game played either with or without search costs to compare decisions of 8- to 10-year-olds, 11- to 12-year-olds, and young adults. To assess the use of weights, we manipulated the weight-structure (high vs. low weight dispersion). Eight- to 10-year-olds had difficulty considering weights during search. Although 11- to 12-year-olds showed widely similar performance to adults, weighting competence was not fully consolidated. Despite children's understanding of weights, we found age differences in their use for search. Results suggested that difficulties do not originate from children's insensitivity towards search costs. When the information weighting is crucial, search costs even impair decision making. We discuss implications for children as autonomous decision makers.