This study investigated information selection and the influence of individual family members on decision outcomes during the transition into early adolescence. Members of 39 two-parent families and members of 30 one-parent families participated in the study. Participants completed four decision tasks independently and then came to a joint decision within their family. Mothers and fathers in both one- and two-parent families were more likely to use information concerning health or safety and past experience; however, their children were more likely to use information concerning the preferences of a group of peers or a single friend. Parents in these families also had more influence on the joint decisions of the family than did their children if only the first family choice was considered. If more than one individual and family choice was considered, influence on the joint decision by adolescents and parents did not differ. Age within the adolescent group interacted with respondent for information selection by two-parent families and for outcome influence in one-parent families.
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