@misc{BaltesDittmannKohliKliegl1986, author = {Baltes, Paul B. and Dittmann-Kohli, Freya and Kliegl, Reinhold}, title = {Reserve capacity of the elderly in aging-sensitive tests of fluid intelligence : replication and extension}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-39939}, year = {1986}, abstract = {Fluid intelligence belongs to that cluster of intellectual abilities evincing aging loss. To examine further the range of intellectual reserve available to aging individuals and the question of replicability in a new cultural and laboratory setting, 204 healthy older adults (mean age = 72 years; range = 60-86) participated in a short-term longitudinal training study. For experimental subjects, 10 sessions consisted of cognitive training involving two subability tests (Figural Relations, Induction) of fluid intelligence. The pattern of outcomes replicates and expands on earlier studies. Older adults have the reserve to evince substantial increases in levels of performance in fluid intelligence tests. Transfer of training, however, is narrow in scope. Training also increases accuracy of performance and the ability to solve more difficult test items. Difficulty level was estimated in a separate study, with a comparable sample of N = 112 elderly adults. Future research is suggested to examine whether intellectual reserve extends to near-maximum levels of performance.}, language = {en} } @misc{BaltesKlieglDittmannKohli1988, author = {Baltes, Paul B. and Kliegl, Reinhold and Dittmann-Kohli, Freya}, title = {On the locus of training gains in research on the plasticity of fluid intelligence in old age}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-40288}, year = {1988}, abstract = {Cognitive training research has shown that many older adults have a substantial reserve capacity in fluid intelligence. Little is known, however, about the locus of plasticity. Two studies were conducted to examine whether training gains in fluid abilities are critically dependent on experimenter-guided training and/or whether older adults can achieve similar improvements by themselves on the basis of cognitive skills already available in their repertoire. Several comparisons were made: (a) between test performances after trainer-guided training in ability-specific cognitive skills and after self-guided retest practice (without feedback), (b) between performances under speeded and power conditions of assessment, (c) between performances on easy and difficult items, and (d) between the relative numbers of correct and wrong answers. Results suggest that a large share of the training improvement shown by the elderly can plausibly be explained as the result of the activation and practice of cognitive skills already available in their repertoire. The results also have implications for educational practice, pointing to the appropriateness of strategies of self-directed learning for many elderly adults.}, language = {en} } @misc{DittmannKohliLachmannKliegletal.1991, author = {Dittmann-Kohli, Freya and Lachmann, Margie E. and Kliegl, Reinhold and Baltes, Paul B.}, title = {Effects of cognitive training and testing on intellectual efficacy beliefs in elderly adults}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-40351}, year = {1991}, abstract = {Elderly adults (N = 116; average age = 73 years) were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups varying in the amount of training and testing on fluid intelligence tests. They were compared before and after treatment on self-efficacy and utility beliefs for intelligence tests and everyday competence. Although both ability training and extended retest practice resulted in significant gains in objective test performance (Baltes, Kliegl, \& Dittmann-Kohli, 1988), only ability training resulted in positive changes in self-efficacy. However, these changes were restricted to testrelated self-efficacy. Training had no impact on perceived utility or on everyday self-efficacy beliefs. Implications of the results are discussed with regard to interventions to increase intellectual self-efficacy in elderly persons.}, language = {en} }