Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults

Glenn Shean; Barbara Haskins

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14

| Peer-Reviewed

Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults

Glenn Shean, Barbara Haskins

Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 2, Issue 6)

Received: 28 August 2013 Accepted: Published: 30 December 2013

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

We compared the relationship between general cognitive ability, social cognition and the ability to understand and make decisions about practical problems among groups of college age and older adults. Results indicated that both general cognitive functioning and social cognitive ability were related to practical problem solving ability among older adults. In contrast college age adults practical problem solving was related to only general cognitive ability. Results indicate that social cognitive ability may compensate for age related decline in general cognitive functions among older adults and allow for continued competence in practical problem solving as speed of processing and short term memory functions decline.

Published in	American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14
Page(s)	89-93
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Social Cognition, General Cognitive Ability, Problem Solving, Age

References

[1]	Allaire, J. C., & Marsiske, M. (1999). Everyday cognition: Age and intellectual ability correlates. Psychology and Aging, 14, (4), 627-644.
[2]	Argyle, M. (1975). Bodily communication. New York: International Universities Press.
[3]	Erickson, K. I., Raji, C. A., Lopez, O. L., Becker, J. T., Rosano, C., Newman, A. B., Gach, H. M., Ghtompson, P. M., Ho, A. J., & Kuller, L. H. (2010). Physical activity predicts gray matter volume in late adulthood: The cardiovascular health study. Neurology, 75 (16), 1415-1422.
[4]	Finucane, M. L., Slovic, P., Hibbard, J. H., Peters, E., Mertz, C. K., & MacGregor, D. G. (2002). Aging and decision-making competence: An analysis of comprehension and consistency skills in older versus younger adults considering health-plan options. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 15, 141-164.
[5]	Finucane, M.L., Mertz, C.K., Slovic, P., & Schmidt, E. S. (2005). Task complexity and older adults’ decision-making competence. Psychology and Aging, 20 (1), 71-84.
[6]	Happe, F. G. E., Winner, E., & Brownell, H. (1998). The getting of wisdom: Theory of mind in old age. Developmental Psychology, 34 (2), 358-362.
[7]	Nowicki, S. Jr., & Carton, J. (1993). The measurement of emotional intensity from facial expressions: The DANVA FACES 2. Journal of Social Psychology, 133, 749-750.
[8]	Pearson Clincial assessment (2009). Test of Premorbid Functioing. San Antonio, TX.
[9]	Pitterman, H., & Nowicki, S. Jr. (2002). A test of the ability to identify emotion in human standing and sitting postures: The diagnostic analysis of nonverbal accuracy-2 posture test (DANVA-POS). Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 130 (2), 146-162.
[10]	Salthouse, T.A. (1991). Mediation of adult age differences in cognition by reductions in working memory and speed of processing. Psychological Science, 2, 179-183.
[11]	Salthouse, T.A. (1996). The processing-speed theory of adult age differences in cognition. Psychological Review, 103, 403-428.
[12]	Sattler, J. M., & Ryan, J. J. (2008). WAIS-III subtests and interpreting the WAIS-III. In Sattler, J. M., Assessment of Children: Cognitive Foundations (5th ed., pp. 518-564). San Diego: Jerome M. Sattler, Publisher, Inc.
[13]	Staudinger, U. M., Smith, J., & Baltes, P. B. (1992). Wisdom-related knowledge in a life review task: Age differences and the role of professional specialization. Psychology and Aging, 7 (2), 271-281.
[14]	Sullivan, S., & Ruffman, T. (2004). Social understanding: How does it fare with advancing years? British Journal of Psychology , 95, 1-18.
[15]	Wechsler, D. (1997). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale- Third Edition: Administration and Scoring Manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
[16]	Yates, J. F., & Patalano, A. L. (1999). Decision making and aging. In D.C. Park, R.W., Morrell, & K. Shifren (Eds.), Processing of medical information in aging patients: Cognitive and human factors perspectives (pp. 31-54). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Glenn Shean, Barbara Haskins. (2013). Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 2(6), 89-93. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Glenn Shean; Barbara Haskins. Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2013, 2(6), 89-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Glenn Shean, Barbara Haskins. Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults. Am J Appl Psychol. 2013;2(6):89-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14,
  author = {Glenn Shean and Barbara Haskins},
  title = {Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {2},
  number = {6},
  pages = {89-93},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20130206.14},
  abstract = {We compared the relationship between general cognitive ability, social cognition and the ability to understand and make decisions about practical problems among groups of college age and older adults. Results indicated that both general cognitive functioning and social cognitive ability were related to practical problem solving ability among older adults. In contrast college age adults practical problem solving was related to only general cognitive ability. Results indicate that social cognitive ability may compensate for age related decline in general cognitive functions among older adults and allow for continued competence in practical problem solving as speed of processing and short term memory functions decline.},
 year = {2013}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults
AU  - Glenn Shean
AU  - Barbara Haskins
Y1  - 2013/12/30
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14
T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
SP  - 89
EP  - 93
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14
AB  - We compared the relationship between general cognitive ability, social cognition and the ability to understand and make decisions about practical problems among groups of college age and older adults. Results indicated that both general cognitive functioning and social cognitive ability were related to practical problem solving ability among older adults. In contrast college age adults practical problem solving was related to only general cognitive ability. Results indicate that social cognitive ability may compensate for age related decline in general cognitive functions among older adults and allow for continued competence in practical problem solving as speed of processing and short term memory functions decline.
VL  - 2
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Glenn Shean

Psychology Department, College of William & Mary, PO Box 8795, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187
Barbara Haskins

Clinical Psychologist Intern, Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Glenn Shean, Barbara Haskins. (2013). Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 2(6), 89-93. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Glenn Shean; Barbara Haskins. Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2013, 2(6), 89-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Glenn Shean, Barbara Haskins. Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults. Am J Appl Psychol. 2013;2(6):89-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14,
  author = {Glenn Shean and Barbara Haskins},
  title = {Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {2},
  number = {6},
  pages = {89-93},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20130206.14},
  abstract = {We compared the relationship between general cognitive ability, social cognition and the ability to understand and make decisions about practical problems among groups of college age and older adults. Results indicated that both general cognitive functioning and social cognitive ability were related to practical problem solving ability among older adults. In contrast college age adults practical problem solving was related to only general cognitive ability. Results indicate that social cognitive ability may compensate for age related decline in general cognitive functions among older adults and allow for continued competence in practical problem solving as speed of processing and short term memory functions decline.},
 year = {2013}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Practical Problem Solving Efficacy among Older and Young Adults
AU  - Glenn Shean
AU  - Barbara Haskins
Y1  - 2013/12/30
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14
T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
SP  - 89
EP  - 93
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20130206.14
AB  - We compared the relationship between general cognitive ability, social cognition and the ability to understand and make decisions about practical problems among groups of college age and older adults. Results indicated that both general cognitive functioning and social cognitive ability were related to practical problem solving ability among older adults. In contrast college age adults practical problem solving was related to only general cognitive ability. Results indicate that social cognitive ability may compensate for age related decline in general cognitive functions among older adults and allow for continued competence in practical problem solving as speed of processing and short term memory functions decline.
VL  - 2
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download