The impact of individual short‑term memory capacity on choice overload effect: Is there stimulus specificity?

Abstract

Too many choices result in choice overload, the effects of which are generally negative. The capacity of short-term memory also impacts the ability and efficiency of people to process multiple options or information, thus affecting the experience of choice. Using three different stimuli for measuring short-term memory capacity and an actual choice task, we provide converging evidence that short-term memory has a moderating effect on the choice overload effect (which is more likely to occur in individuals with poor short-term memory ability), but it is important to note that this moderation is stimulusspecific. That is to say, the choice overload effect of individuals in the picture choosing task is impacted solely by their short-term memory capacity of pictures, and has nothing to do with other stimulus types. It can help consumers and businesses better process the way information is presented to maximize shortterm memory and reduce the occurrence of choice overload effect.