Cognitive and Age-Related Differences in the Ability to Use Nutritional Information in a Complex Environment

Results from three experiments indicate how age, cognitive style, and perceptual aid affect consumers’ use of nutritional information. In experiments 1 and 2, age and perceptual aid influence accuracy in a cereal choice task. In experiment 3, perceptual aid interacts with cognitive style, influencing accuracy and decision time. The authors discuss implications for aging theory, consumer education, and public policy.