EVALUATING ADOLESCENT DECISION-MAKING IN LEGAL CONTEXTS

Challenges the use by policy researchers of a model for comparing adol escent and adult decision making that is based on informed consent sta ndards. An expanded decision-making framework designed to evaluate ''j udgment'' in adults and adolescents can better test the empirical basi s of paternalistic legal policies. The theoretical and empirical liter ature on the informed consent framework is critiqued and an alternativ e framework incorporating judgment factors is proposed. Three judgment factors-temporal perspective, attitude toward risk, and peer and pare ntal influence-and their effects on decision making are explored. Fina lly, implications for future research are analyzed in several decision -making contexts.