Age differences in information acquisition strategies.
Age differences in information acquisition strategies were investigated by means of a visual 20-questions game. An optimal information acquisition strategy was made increasingly apparent across three experimental trials through strategy cues and demonstration. Three primary measures of information acquisition efficiency were defined and used to assess how closely the participants in three age groups (45-50 years, 60-65 years, 75-80 years) approximated ideal solution strategy. All measures indicate significant age group differences in the efficiency with which information was acquired, with the 45-50 year-old group scoring highest and the 75-80 year-old group scoring lowest. All age groups improved significantly across the three trials. The problem solving efficiency of the 60-65 year-old group was similar to that of the 45-50 year-old group, but the 75-80 year-old group scored significantly lower on performance measures than did the two younger groups combined. When a categorical search strategy was adopted, the oldest participants improved significantly; however, the age differences remained.
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003210:Concept Formation; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D005717:Games, Experimental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving