Paired associate learning: age differences

Katsikopoulos, Konstantinos V., Fisher, Donald L. and Pullen, Michael T. (1996) Paired associate learning: age differences. In Paired Associate Learning. vol. 1, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. pp. 123-127 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

The issue of age related differences in performance during the acquisition phase of a paired associate learning task is discussed within the framework of a precise mathematical tool. A two-stage, four-state Markov model is employed to analyze the data sets from two age groups consisting of 24 subjects each. The relative efficiencies of the acquisition processes of the younger and the older groups of adults are reflected in the different values of parameters. (These values were obtained by optimizing the fit of the model to the two data sets). The two major findings are: (i) the younger adults form associations (even temporary ones more easily) and (ii) these associations tend to decay less quickly, again in the younger adults. The results speak against the general decrement hypothesis, although further investigation is needed.

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Published date: 1 January 1996

Venue - Dates: Proceedings of the 1996 40th Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Part 1 (of 2), , Philadelphia, PA, USA, 1996-09-02 - 1996-09-06