Abstract
In the present study, the author investigated age differences in the effects of knowledge on the efficiency with which information is processed while reading. Individuals between 18 and 85 years of age, with varying levels of cooking knowledge, read and recalled a series of short passages within the domain of cooking. Reading efficiency was operationalized as time spent reading divided by the amount recalled for each passage. Results showed that reading efficiency increased with increasing levels of knowledge among older but not younger adults. Similarly, those with smaller working memory capacities showed increasing efficiency with increasing knowledge. These findings suggest that knowledge promotes a more efficient allocation policy that is particularly helpful in later life, perhaps due to age-related declines in working memory capacity.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 63-74 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Psychology and Aging |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2009 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- aging
- cognitive efficiency
- knowledge level
- reading comprehension
- working memory
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Aging
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
Cite this
Age Differences in the Effects of Domain Knowledge on Reading Efficiency. / Miller, Lisa M.Soederberg.
In: Psychology and Aging, Vol. 24, No. 1, 01.03.2009, p. 63-74.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Age Differences in the Effects of Domain Knowledge on Reading Efficiency
AU - Miller, Lisa M.Soederberg
PY - 2009/3/1
Y1 - 2009/3/1
N2 - In the present study, the author investigated age differences in the effects of knowledge on the efficiency with which information is processed while reading. Individuals between 18 and 85 years of age, with varying levels of cooking knowledge, read and recalled a series of short passages within the domain of cooking. Reading efficiency was operationalized as time spent reading divided by the amount recalled for each passage. Results showed that reading efficiency increased with increasing levels of knowledge among older but not younger adults. Similarly, those with smaller working memory capacities showed increasing efficiency with increasing knowledge. These findings suggest that knowledge promotes a more efficient allocation policy that is particularly helpful in later life, perhaps due to age-related declines in working memory capacity.
AB - In the present study, the author investigated age differences in the effects of knowledge on the efficiency with which information is processed while reading. Individuals between 18 and 85 years of age, with varying levels of cooking knowledge, read and recalled a series of short passages within the domain of cooking. Reading efficiency was operationalized as time spent reading divided by the amount recalled for each passage. Results showed that reading efficiency increased with increasing levels of knowledge among older but not younger adults. Similarly, those with smaller working memory capacities showed increasing efficiency with increasing knowledge. These findings suggest that knowledge promotes a more efficient allocation policy that is particularly helpful in later life, perhaps due to age-related declines in working memory capacity.
KW - aging
KW - cognitive efficiency
KW - knowledge level
KW - reading comprehension
KW - working memory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=64649093917&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=64649093917&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/a0014586
DO - 10.1037/a0014586
M3 - Article
C2 - 19290738
AN - SCOPUS:64649093917
VL - 24
SP - 63
EP - 74
JO - Psychology and Aging
JF - Psychology and Aging
SN - 0882-7974
IS - 1
ER -