Your Text Reports a Study by Shafir, Simon, and Tversky

Multiple Choice

Your text reports a study by Shafir, Simon, and Tversky (1993) in which participants were asked to consider either Scenario A, involving an attractive offer on a Sony product, or Scenario B, describing attractive offers on both a Sony and an Aiwa product. In each case, participants were asked if they would purchase a product or wait until they learned more about other models. In which condition were participants more likely to say they would wait rather than purchase a product, and why?

A) Scenario A participants were more likely to wait. They would prefer more options before making a purchase.
B) Scenario B participants were more likely to wait. Having even two options to consider makes decision making more difficult because of the demands on working memory.
C) Scenario B participants were more likely to wait. Participants found it difficult to justify choosing one attractive option over another attractive option.
D) Scenario A participants were more likely to wait. Utility theory suggests that optimal decision making requires more than a single option.