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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
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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

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