Abstracts - Spring 2006

THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH ARTICLES

5 Estimating Reliability of Automated Aids: Effects of Age and System Reliability Changes

Julian Sanchez, Ph.D., Neta Ezer, M.S., Wendy A. Rogers, Ph.D., & Arthur D. Fisk, Ph.D.

14 Effects of Technology on Verbal and Visual-Spatial Abilities

David D. Preiss, Ph.D. & Robert J. Sternberg, Ph.D.

23 Mobile Cellular Technology: A new Approach to Coping with Accidental Falls Among Older Adults

Cecile N. Yancu, Ph.D.

31 Rumor Mongering as a Collective coping strategy for Traumatic Public Events: Evidence from Face to Face interactions and Rumors on the internet

W. Richard Walker, Ph.D. & Jeffrey A. Gibbons, Ph.D.

36 “Honey, did you remember to do your homework?”: Understanding Everyday Memory Failures in Children and Their Parents

Megan L. Howard, B.S., Stephen M. Fiore, Ph.D., & Florian Jentsch, Ph.D.

BOOK REVIEWS

46 Review of Johns HopkinsWhite Papers - Memory

Douglas Herrmann, Ph.D.

48 Review of Applied Cognitive Technology

Stephen Fiore, Ph.D.

Estimating Reliability of Automated Aids: Effects of Age and System Reliability Changes

Julian Sanchez, Ph.D., Neta Ezer, M.S., Wendy A. Rogers, Ph.D. & Arthur D. Fisk, Ph.D.

The ability of humans to accurately estimate the reliability of an automated system is critical for successful human-automation interaction. We evaluated subjective assessment of reliability when large ranges in actual reliability occurred across exposures to the automated aid -- from perfect (100%) to near chance reliability (e.g., 60%). We also examined effects of age (older (aged 65-75) and younger adults (aged 18-27)) on reliability assessments. Sixty participants interacted with a warning system having a reliability of 60, 80, or 100 percent within a block of trials. System reliability was manipulated within participants and order of reliability exposure was a between participant variable. Age-related differences in reliability estimation were minimal, however, older adults were more sensitive to system reliability changes when reliability was poor (60%). Strong recency effects were observed indicating a carry-over effect of previous reliability exposure.

Key Terms: Assessments, reliability, age differences, automated systems

APA Formatted Citation

Sanchez, J., Ezer, N., Rogers, W., & Fisk, A. (2006). Estimating reliability of automated aids: Effects of age and system reliability changes. Cognitive Technology, 11(1), 5-13.

Effects of Technology on Verbal and Visual-Spatial Abilities

David D. Preiss, Ph.D. & Robert J. Sternberg, Ph.D.

We argue that, although human intelligence has an innate component, artifact-free abilities do not exist. To advance this argument, we draw attention to the two main features of technologies: Their role as amplifiers of human abilities and their mixed nature as both material and conceptual entities. To illustrate the impact of cognitive technologies, we discuss how they influence verbal skills via notational technologies and fluid skills via visual–spatial technologies. We then approach computerization from the advantaged view of its impact on both visual–spatial and conventional literacy skills. We conclude by underlining the dynamic and context-dependent nature of human ability. To successfully adapt to its cultural niche, human intelligence engages with different cognitive tools and gains a complexity larger than the one it supposedly reaches in its development according to g-factor theories.

Key terms: intelligence, human ability, literacy, non-notational, verbal and visual-spatial

APA Formatted Citation

Preiss, D., & Sternberg, R. (2006). Effects of technology on verbal and visual-spatial abilities. Cognitive Technology, 11(1), 14-22.

Mobile Cellular Technology: A new Approach to Coping with Accidental Falls Among Older Adults

Cecile N. Yancu, Ph.D.

Sociologist C. Wright Mills (1959/1976) would probably argue that accidental falls among elders simultaneously represents a “personal trouble” and a “public issue”. It is personal because research identifies fall-related injuries as a major threat to continued independent living and, therefore, jeopardizes quality of life. It is public because the demographic trend in population aging means that more people are at risk for accidental falls. This paper proposes that mobile cellular technology can be specially adapted to serve as an intervention usable in the older adult’s natural environment, to help identify risk factors and to reduce underreporting of falls.

Key Terms: Elders, Accidental falls, Mobile cellular technology, Independent living, Quality of Life

APA Formatted Citation

Yancu, C.. (2006). Mobile cellular technology: A new approach to coping with accidental falls among older adults. Cognitive Technology, 11(1), 23-30.

Rumor Mongering as a Collective Coping Strategy for Traumatic Public Events: Evidence from Face to Face Interactions and Rumors on the Internet

W. Richard Walker, Ph.D., & Jeffrey A. Gibbons, Ph.D.

According to Pennebaker and Harber’s (1993) Social Stage Model of Coping, people frequently engage in collective coping after a traumatic event. Over time, people stop talking about the event, even though they continue to think about it. Therefore, socially rehearsing events may help people adapt to tragedies in their life. Several studies examining ordinary and traumatic personal events support this model, but this model may apply to traumatic public events as well. Specifically, people may tell rumors about public tragedies in an effort to better understand the information that they have about these events. The current study used the rumors related to the 2000 election and the rumors related to the terror attacks of September 11 th to examine this possibility. These studies showed that the rumor mongering produced by traumatic public events shows the same pattern of results as social rehearsals for ordinary and traumatic private events. Consequently, rumor mongering may be best characterized as a collective coping strategy for traumatic public events.

Key Terms: Internet, rumors, memory, traumatic events, coping strategy

APA Formatted Citation

Walker, R., & Gibbons, J.. (2006). Rumor mongering as a collective coping strategy for traumatic public events: Evidence from face to face interactions and rumors on the internet. Cognitive Technology, 11(1), 31-35.

“Honey, did you remember to do your homework?”: Understanding Everyday Memory Failures in Children and Their Parents

Megan L., Howard, B.S., Stephen M. Fiore, Ph.D., & Florian Jentsch, Ph.D

This study was designed to explore memory failures in children and their parents, specifically, the personal events involved in memory and memory failures and to what extent children and adults realize what they have forgotten. Since previous research in this domain has focused mainly on adult’s or children’s ability to recall past events, few have ventured to investigate what underlies the process of forgetting for everyday events in parents and children, and if a link exists between the two. Such research is necessary if tools and methods to improve and support memory across the life-span, are to be developed. Survey data pertaining to self-reported memory failures along with information on the amount of interaction between parents and children was collected at a local elementary school. The results show that children and parents were more likely to report failure in prospective memory (forgetting to do something) than retrospective memory (forgetting something they already knew). Additionally, when asked what they thought had caused the failure, children were more likely to attribute the lapse to external distractions. Finally, the data showed that the degree of parent-child interaction was significantly related to the detail provided in a child’s reported memory failures. Results are discussed in the context of developing a better understanding of, and suggest future avenues for, research in memory and memory failures in children, as well as understanding the relation between parent/child memory.

Key Terms: memory failure, life-span, children, recall, autobiographical

APA Formatted Citation

Howard, M., Fiore, S., & Jentsch, F. (2006). “Honey, did you remember to do your homework?”: Understanding everyday memory failures in children and their parents. Cognitive Technology, 11(1), 36-45.

Book Review

Review of Johns HopkinsWhite Papers - Memory by P. V. Rabin (2006)

Reviewed by Douglas Herrmann, Ph.D.

This White Paper was written by Peter V. Rabins, M.D., M.P. H.. In sixty pages it discusses recent advances in our understanding of eight topics: The biology of memory; Age-associated memory impairment; Preventing dementia; Mild cognitive impairment; Dementia; Memory and reversible dementia; Memory and irreversible dementia, and Coping with caregiving. In addition, a glossary is provided along with information about health organizations and support groups and a list of leading hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery. Finally, a reprint is provided of a 2005 article from the New England Journal of Medicine that reviews current concepts in "memory dysfunction." The orientation to all findings and theory is physiological and medical. The writing about these topics is clear. Some drawings of the brain are provided and there are many informative tables that summarize the important knowledge on a topic. Findings and/or theoretical perspectives, both established and new, are presented for each of these topics. Usually relevant sources are cited for which a reader may want to consult. The font size and spacing is ideal for readers over 40 years old.

APA Formatted Citation

Herrmann, D. (2006). [ Review of Johns Hopkins White Papers - Memory ] . Cognitive Technology, 11(1), 46-47.

Book Review

A review of Applied Cognitive Psychology: A Textbook by Douglas J. Herrmann, Carol Y. Yoder, Michael Gruneberg, and David G. Payne (2006)

Reviewed by Stephen Fiore, Ph.D.

Herrmann, Yoder, Gruneberg, and Payne have articulated a laudable goal for themselves with the recent publication of their textbook, Applied Cognitive Psychology. Building on their long and distinguished careers of demonstrating the application of fundamental knowledge arising out the psychological sciences, they have set out to illustrate the varied ways in which theory and methods from cognitive psychology can be used in the real-world. By beginning with the juxtaposition of traditional conceptualizations of basic versus applied science, Herrmann et al. set the stage for a continuing theme of this text. In particular they explain how basic research informs applied research, and how, oftentimes, applied research can inform basic research. The text itself is aimed at upper level undergraduates or beginning graduate students. The writing is certainly accessible enough for the former. With respect to the latter demographic, the text has more of an emphasis on breadth rather than depth when discussing the many topics. As such, it could either be an assigned book for multidisciplinary graduate programs (e.g., Human Factors and Engineering Psychology), or as a guide for selected readings in overview seminars in cognitive and experimental psychology. In particular, the text has an extensive reference section that provides an excellent listing of the many articles discussed.

APA Formatted Citation

Fiore, S. (2006). [ Review of the book Applied Cognitive Psychology: A Textbook] .Cognitive Technology, 11(1), 48-49.