Does differential strategy use account for age-related deficits in working-memory performance?

Full Abstract

The strategy-deficit hypothesis states that age differences in the use of effective strategies contribute to age-related deficits in working memory span performance. To evaluate this hypothesis, strategy use was measured with set-by-set strategy reports during the Reading Span task (Experiments 1 and 2) and the Operation Span task (Experiment 2). Individual differences in the reported use of effective strategies accounted for substantial variance in span performance. In contrast to the strategy-deficit hypothesis, however, young and older adults reported using the same proportion of normatively effective strategies on both span tasks. Measures of processing speed accounted for a substantial proportion of the age-related variance in span performance. Thus, although use of normatively effective strategies accounts for individual differences in span performance, age differences in effective strategy use cannot explain the age-related variance in that performance.

Author information

Author/s: Bailey, Heather (H); Dunlosky, John (J); Hertzog, Christopher (C);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA. jdunlosk(-atsign-)kent.edu

Grants: R37 AG13148 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Psychology and aging (Psychol Aging), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Mar; vol 24 (issue 1) : pp 82-92

Dates: Created 2009/03/17; Completed 2009/05/11;

PMID: 19290740, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 5/11/2009, IMS Date: 11 May 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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