title: Personal importance, motivation, and performance of older adults.
abstract: This investigation was conducted to examine whether older adults would improve their performance when given statements intended to make them feel important to a research study as well as statements concerning their over-all well-being. Women (n = 14) and men (n = 15) with mean ages of 76.0 yr. and 75.1 yr., respectively, were randomly assigned into a control group, a positive reinforcement group, and a group given statements of personal importance. Dependent measures on a rotary pursuit task, screw-and-nut assembly task, and an interest questionnaire were obtained during three separate visits. Data were analyzed with a 3 x 3 (Groups x Days) analysis of variance. While no significant group effects were found on any measure, a significant main effect was obtained for days, indicative of learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Florida, Gainseville 32611.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Tennant
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009949:Orientation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D012057:Reinforcement, Verbal; D012106:Research; D012649:Self Concept