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Age-related changes in error monitoring of an everyday task

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 23:53 authored by Sara Balouch, Jennifer Rusted
The process of checking in an everyday task to ensure error prevention/error correction, has not been systematically documented in relation to everyday action errors. This is surprising, given that studies of everyday task performance in people with dementia suggest poor error monitoring (error detection/correction). The present study documented age-related changes in errors and error monitoring behaviors, including the novel variable of checking (verbal/non-verbal gestures indicating active task monitoring), in an everyday task. In a 2 × 2 mixed-subjects design (n = 57), young and older adults performed a tea-making task under standard and dual-task conditions. Error rates were similar across age-groups and conditions. The dual-task condition reduced verbal checking and increased microslips (initiation and termination of an error before the error is completed) for both age-groups, when compared to the standard condition. In the standard condition, older adults engaged in more verbal checks than young adults, but this was not associated with improved task accuracy. Thus, both age-groups do engage in checking during an everyday task, but this checking had little impact on task accuracy. Consequently, checking may not be a necessary part of performance accuracy. Future studies should investigate whether enhanced awareness would make monitoring more effective.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

ISSN

1355-6177

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Issue

07

Volume

19

Page range

763-772

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-01-07

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