The effects of analogical training models and age on problem-solving in a new domain.
Young and middle-aged adults learned a microcomputer drawing package either with or without an analogical model of the package. Following training, problem-solving flexibility was assessed. Although no age differences were obtained following no-model training, middle-aged subjects performed worse than young subjects following model-based training. These results support the hypothesis that model-based training encourages elaboration and abstraction processes, and that older adults are less likely or less able to engage in such processing.
Caplan
L J
LJ
National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Schooler
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003200:Computer User Training / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011340:Problem Solving