Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T17:10:20.377Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Perceived Cognitive Ability of Young and Old Targets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Jennifer J. Hendrick ,
V. Jane Knox ,
William L. Gekoski  and
Kate J. Dyne
Jennifer J. Hendrick
Affiliation:
Queen's University
V. Jane Knox
Affiliation:
Queen's University
William L. Gekoski
Affiliation:
Queen's University
Kate J. Dyne
Affiliation:
Queen's University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In the first of two experiments designed to investigate perceived cognitive abilities of young and old targets, 80 female undergraduates estimated the performance of either a young or an old target on several subtests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS; Wechsler, 1955). Experiment 2, with 120 respondents, extended Experiment 1 to include respondent sex and target sex variables, and additional WAIS subtests. The results of the two experiments suggest a highly differentiated view of cognitive abilities. On subtests related primarily to memory and psychomotor speed, the old targets were seen as less cognitively able than the young targets. On a subtest assessing practical judgment and common sense old targets were seen as superior to young targets. On subtests assessing computational abilities and logical abstractive thinking no reliable target age differences were found. Neither target sex nor respondent sex played a substantial role in target age perceptions. Compared to available norms estimates xvere unrealistically generous, particularly in the case of older adults. However the pattern of estimates across cognitive abilities reflected, to a substantial degree, the age-related differences in the norms.

Résumé

Dans la première de deux expériences construites pour examiner la perception des habiletés cognitives de modèles jeunes et âgés, 80 étudiantes de niveau universitaire ont eu pour tâche d'estimer la performance de modèles jeunes et âgés par rapport à plusieurs sous-tests du test d'intelligence Wechsler pour adultes (WAIS; Wechsler, 1955). La deuxième expérience, avec ses 120 répondants a augmenté la première expérience pour inclure le sexe des répondants et le sexe des modèles comme variables, ainsi que plusieurs sous-tests additionnels du WAIS. Les résultats des deux expériences suggèrent des différences marquées concernant la perception des habiletés cognitives. Pour les sous-tests ayant rapport principalement à la mémoire et à la vitesse psychomotrice, les modèles plus âgés ont été perçus comme étant moins habiles au niveau cognitif que lesjeunes modèles. Pour les sous-tests mesurant le jugement pratique ainsi que le sens commun, les modèles plus âgés ont été évalués comme étant supérieurs aux jeunes modèles. Pour les sous-tests avant rapport aux habiletés arithmétiques ainsi qu'à la pensée logique et abstraite, l'âge du modèle n'apparait pas avoir joué un rôle. En comparaison aux normes disponibles, les estimations sont plus que généreuses, particulièrement en ce qui concerne les modèles plus âgés. Toutelois, le tvpe d'estimations modèle, d'une façon très claire, les différences reliées à l'âge dans les normes.

Keywords

agingperceptionscognitive ability
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , Fall/Automne 1988 , pp. 192 - 203
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ahammer, I.M., & Baltes, P.B. (1972). Objective versus perceived age differences in personality: How do adolescents, adults, and older people view themselves and each other? Journal of Gerontology, 27, 46–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Anastasi, A. (1982). Psychological testing (5th ed.). New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Clayton, V.P., & Birren, J.E. (1980). The development of wisdom across the life span: A reexamination of an ancient topic. In Bakes, P.B. & Brim, O.G. Jr, (Eds.), Life-Span Development and Behavior, Vol. 3, New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Doppelt, J.E., & Wallace, W.L. (1955). Standardization of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale for older persons. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 51, 312–330.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gekoski, W.L., & Knox, V.J. (1983). [Perceptions of targets varying in age, sex, and health status]. Unpublished data.Google Scholar
Gekoski, W.L., Knox, V.J., Johnson, E.A., & Evans, K.R. (1984). Sex of target and sex of subject effects on the perceptions of 25, 45, 65 and 85 year olds. Canadian Journal on Aging, 3, 155–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horn, J.L. & Donaldson, G. (1976). On the myth of cognitive decline in adulthood. A merica n Psychologist, 31, 701–719.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ivester, C., & King, K. (1977). Attitudes of adolescents towards the aged. Gerontologist, 17, 85–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knox, V.J., & Gekoski, W.L. (1987). The effect of judgment context on assessments of age groups. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Kogan, N. (1979). Beliefs, attitudes, and stereotypes about old people: A new look at some old issues. Research on Aging, 1, 11–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kogan, N., & Mills, M. (1983, November). Is age a more salient dimension for males than for females? Paper presented at the 36th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gcrontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.Google Scholar
Martin Matthews, A., Tindale, J. A., & Morris, J.E. (1984). The Facts on Aging Quiz: A Canadian validation and cross-cultural comparison. Canadtan journal on Aging, 3, 165–174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neugarten, B.L. (1975). The future of the voung-old. Gerontohgist, 15, 4–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palmore, E. (1977). Facts on Aging: A short quiz. Gerontohgist, 17, 315–320.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosencranz, H.A., & McNevin, T.E. (1969). A factor analysis of attitudes towards the aged. Gerontohgist, 9, 55–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rubin, K.H., & Brown, I.D.R. (1975). Alife-span lookat person perception and its relationship to communicative interaction. Journal of Gerontology, 30, 461–468.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schaie, K.W. (1979). The Primary Mental Abilities in adulthood: An exploration in the development of psychometric intelligence. In Baltes, P.B. & Brim, O.G. Jr, (Eds.), Life-Span Development and Behavior, Vol. 2. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Schmidt, D.F., & Boland, S.M. (1986). Structure of perceptions of older adults: Evidence for multiple stereotypes. Psychology and Aging, 1, 255–260.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thorson, J.A., & Perkins, M.L. (1980–1981). An examination of personality and demographic factors on attitudes towards old people. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 12, 139–148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walsh, R.P., & Connor, C.C. (1979). Old men and young women: How objectively are their skills assessed? Journal of Gerontology, 34, 561–568.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wechsler, D. (1955). Manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, New York: Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (1958). The measurement and appraisal of adult intelligence (4th ed.). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.Google Scholar
Weinberger, L.E., & Millham, J. (1975). A multi-dimensional multiple method analysis of attitudes towards the elderly. Journal of Gerontology, 30, 343–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zimmerman, I.L., & Woo-Sam, J.M. (1973). Clinical interpretation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: Grune & Stratton.Google Scholar