# DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLED PERFORMANCE IN THE ELDERLY

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · 1992 · $70,509

## Abstract

The focus of this proposal is the investigation of age-related differences
in human information processing. More specifically, we are interested in
how these age related differences impact the acquisition of new skills. We
are also concerned with how information processing strategies might be used
to reduce decrements in the rate of learning and asymptotic level of
performance that are observed with older individuals. In our investigation
of these issues we will employ a number of methodologies including:
speed-accuracy manipulations, speed-accuracy decomposition techniques
(Meyer et al., 1988), random walk modelling procedures (Ratcliff, 1978,
1985), and event related brain potentials, in an effort to provide a
fine-grained assessment of performance changes during training. Our goal
is to localize the bottlenecks in the acquisition of cognitive skills and
identify compensatory strategies which may circumvent these information
processing impediments.

We plan to investigate the hypothesis that conservative response strategies
observed in the elderly inhibit the acquisition of new cognitive skills and
that this deficit may be reduced or eliminated through manipulations which
affect their response criterion (defined as the amount of evidence required
before a response is emitted; emphasis on speed or accuracy in responding).
Furthermore, the role of response strategies in the acquisition of
cognitive skills will be evaluated in detail for both young and elderly
adults. If response strategy is a critical factor in the development of
automaticity, as has been suggested by Shiffrin, Dumais and Schneider
(1984), then acquisition rates may be varied independently of age.

This program of research is intended to provide refinements to theories of
aging by explicating the effects of strategic/cognitive differences in
information processing on overall response speed and skill acquisition.
Furthermore, refinements to theories of skill acquisition will be sought
by exploring in detail the role of cognitive strategies on skill
acquisition rates. In addition to contributions to theories of skill
acquisition and aging we believe that our research has important practical
implications for the development of training strategies that are well
suited to older individuals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120042
- **Project number:** 5R01AG008435-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Y8CWNJRCNN91
- **Principal Investigator:** ARTHUR F. KRAMER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $70,509
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-03-01 → 1994-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120042

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120042, DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLED PERFORMANCE IN THE ELDERLY (5R01AG008435-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120042. Licensed CC0.

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