Categorization behavior in aging subjects.
Age changes in categorization and conceptual styles were studied using an object-sorting task in 276 subjects representing 7 age groups: 5, 6, 7, 19-21, 60-69. 70-79, and 80-89. Significant age effects (p less than 01) were found in the analysis of variance for four of six measures; there were no significant sex or interaction effects. Strong quadratic trends were found for number of ungrouped objects, % relational-thematic responses, and % categorical-inferential responses; oldest groups' responses were similar to children's. A linear trend was found for number of groups. There was no significant age effect for category breadth. Use of descriptive-analytic categories by the elderly was negligible compared to younger subjects.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis