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Description
The programme challenges the assumption that cognitive processes deteriorate after a certain age. Several experiments are carried out to show that old people can still learn and make logical decisi...ons. The methodology of these experiments is discussed.
The programme challenges the assumption that cognitive processes deteriorate after a certain age. Several experiments are carried out to show that old people can still learn and make logical decisi...ons. The methodology of these experiments is discussed.
| Module code and title: | D303, Cognitive psychology |
|---|---|
| Item code: | D303; 10 |
| First transmission date: | 17-07-1978 |
| Published: | 1978 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:35 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Nell Smith |
| Contributors: | Paula Masterman; David Wood |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Educational development; Old age; Psychology |
| Footage description: | The programme begins with Paula Masterman discussing the aims of the Developmental Perspective section of the course and the problems involved in making comparisons between different age groups. We see three groups, of different ages, tackling a problem. The comparison between the groups would seem to indicate a decline on the part of the older people. Paula challenges whether or not this is a fair way to make judgements. Paula now discusses these problems with David Wood and then goes on to describe a different method of testing old people's problem-solving ability, devised by Nancy Denney. This involves the arrangement of objects of different shapes and colours. We now see three people doing the test. They are asked to put the pieces which are alike together. Paula then shows them how she would organise the pieces. The old people do the test once more; the first post test. David Wood offers some criticism of the experiment, its design and the materials used. Paula explains how these objections were allowed for in a pilot test. She discusses alterations made to Denney's original experiments. Next we see the old people doing the second post test. All of them complete the test in the way Paula showed them. David again questions the validity of this experiment, challenging for instance if it measures what it set out to measure. He argues that the content validity of the test material is important. To further demonstrate this idea we see the old people taking part in a committee meeting, in which they demonstrate the ability to resolve problems in an intelligent manner. David Wood discusses their behaviour and its implications for any future experimental strategy. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72784 |
| Production number: | 00525_2411 |
| Videofinder number: | 209 |
| Available to public: | no |
