title: Category learning in older adulthood: A study of the Shepard, Hovland, and Jenkins (1961) tasks.
abstract: Shepard, Hovland, and Jenkins (1961) examined the categorization abilities of younger adults using tasks involving single-dimensional rule learning, disjunctive rule learning, and family resemblance learning. The current study examined category learning in older adults using this well-known category set. Older adults, like younger adults, found category tasks with a single relevant dimension the easiest to learn. In contrast to younger adults, older adults found complex disjunctive rule-based categories harder to learn than family resemblance based categories. Disjunctive rule-based category learning appeared to be the most difficult for older adults to learn because this category set placed the heaviest demands on working memory, which is known to be a cognitive function that declines with normal aging. The authors discuss why complex rule-based category learning is considered more difficult for older adults to learn relative to younger adults, drawing parallels to developmental research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario.
authors.forename: Rahel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario.
authors.forename: John Paul
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4081-010X
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Minda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007858:Learning / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D057190:Stroop Test