2 Method 2.1 SamplesParticipants we

2 Method 2.1 Samples
Participants were undergraduate students from a large Midwestern U.S. university (N = 751) and a large Northeastern university (N = 234) in the United States. No demographic information was collected. Participants with missing data on either the MS or MTS were removed from the data, leaving a total sample size of 948 individuals. The samples were randomly divided in half for the EFA and CFA models (N = 474 each). The IRT and correlation analyses used the combined sample of 948 individuals.
2.2 Measures
Maximizing Tendency Scale (MTS). The MTS (Diab et al., 2008) is composed of nine items that are designed to measure an individual’s tendency toward making optimal decisions. The items are rated on a 5-point response scale with options ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Higher scores indicate a greater tendency toward maximizing. The reliability of the MTS in our full (combined) sample was α = .78.
Maximization Scale (MS). Like the MTS, the MS (Schwartz et al., 2002) is composed of thirteen items that are designed to measure an individual’s tendency toward making optimal decisions. The items are rated on a 7 point response scale with response options ranging from completely disagree (1) to completely agree (7). Higher scores indicate a greater tendency toward maximizing. The reliability of the MS in our full (combined) sample was α = .71.
Indecisiveness. The indecisiveness scale (Frost & Shows, 1993) is composed of 15 items that are designed to measure compulsive indecisiveness. The items are rated on a 5-point response scale with options ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Higher scores indicate greater levels of indecisiveness. The reliability of the indecisiveness scale in our full (combined) sample was α = .84.
Avoidant Decision Making. The avoidant decision making measure (Scott & Bruce, 1995) is composed of five items that are designed to measure the extent to which an individual puts off making an important decision. The items are rated on a 5-point Likert–Type response scale with options ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Higher scores indicate greater levels of avoidance. The reliability of the avoidant decision making measure in our full (combined) sample was α=.90.
Regret. The Schwartz Regret Scale (Schwartz et al., 2002) is composed of five items that are designed to measure regret following a decision. The items are rated on a 7-point response scale with options ranging from completely disagree (1) to completely agree (7). Higher scores indicate greater levels of post–decision regret. The reliability of the regret scale in our full (combined) sam- ple was α = .65.
Neuroticism. The Goldberg Neuroticism Scale (Goldberg et al., 2006) is composed of 20 items presented as short statements that would describe an individual as generally depressed, moody, doubt–filled, etc. Partici- pants are asked to respond to each statement using a 5- point response scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Higher scores indicate greater levels of neuroticism. The reliability of the neuroticism scale in our full (combined) sample was α = .93.
Life Satisfaction. The Satisfaction With Life Scale (Di- ener et al., 1985) is composed of five items that are designed to measure the extent to which an individual is satisfied with with the current conditions in his or her life. The items are rated on a 5-point response scale with options ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Higher scores indicate higher levels of satisfaction. The reliability of the life satisfaction scale in our full (combined) sample was α = .85.
Depression. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (Cole et al., 2004) is composed of 20 items that are designed to measure depression-related feelings that an individual has been having in the past week. Responses based on frequency of the feelings and are categorized into five options that are scored from zero to four. Higher scores indicate more depression-related feelings. The reliability of the depression scale in our full (combined) sample was α = .93.
Subjective Happiness. The subjective happiness scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1997) is composed of four items designed to measure a general (dispositional) level of happiness. The items are rated on a 7-point response scale with response options tailored to each item. Higher scores indicate a greater levels of happiness. The reliability of the subjective happiness scale in our full (com- bined) sample was α = .82.
Optimism. The Optimism Scale (Scheier et al., 1994) is composed of six items designed to measure general feelings of optimism for future events. The items are rated on a 5-point Likert–Type response scale with op- tions ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Higher scores indicate greater levels of optimism