The need of young adults to text now: Using delay discounting to assess informational choice

This study examined the value of responding immediately to a text or call and the ability to wait. The willingness to delay texting or calling for a larger monetary reward was compared with delay tolerance for monetary rewards alone. The results of two experiments showed no differences in the qualitative shape of the delay discounting functions, indicating a similar decision-making process for informational (texting or calling) and monetary decisions. Data in the second experiment showed that the degree of delay tolerance varied as a function of the social distance of the texting partner, indicating a strategic decision-making process in informational decisions. However, the time course of loss of value for informational versus monetary rewards revealed substantial quantitative differences. While money loses value on the time span of weeks, information loses value within minutes, which may explain why behaviors like texting often occur in inappropriate situations and may seem like addictions.

⿺ We used a delay discounting procedure to examine the choice to text. ⿺ We examined the decision making parameters to determine if the choice to text is impulsive. ⿺ We varied social distance of the text partner to change value of the text. ⿺ The choice to text yielded decision making parameters qualitatively similar to other decisions. ⿺ The time scale of loss of value for the choice to text was much shorter than other decisions.