PSYC 1115 Article Summary: Cognitive Abilities and Word Recall

This report summarizes an article investigating the influence of age and cognitive abilities on word recall performance. The study utilized a multi-trial word list test with participants aged 18-98 and a cognitive abilities test. Results indicated that higher episodic capability correlated with improved word recall across all list segments. Early trials showed difficulties in recalling the last segment words, but performance improved with repeated trials. Advanced age was associated with weaker performance. The study concluded that repetitive trials and cognitive abilities play a more significant role in word recall than age-related factors. The methodology involved a test with 2497 participants. The findings suggest that cognitive abilities are more helpful than age relations, and repetitive trials help improve word recall performance. References include research by Krueger & Salthouse (2011), Whitley et al. (2016), and others, which support the conclusion that age plays a crucial role in recalling words, and cognitive abilities can help people with better performance.

Impact of Cognitive Abilities and Age on Word Recall Performance 0
Title: Impact of Cognitive Abilities and Age on Word Recall Performance
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Impact of Cognitive Abilities and Age on Word Recall Performance 1
Contents
Impact of Cognitive Abilities and Age on Word Recall Performance.......................................2
References..................................................................................................................................3

Impact of Cognitive Abilities and Age on Word Recall Performance 2
Impact of Cognitive Abilities and Age on Word Recall Performance
There are few studies that have examined the influence of age and cognitive abilities
on word recalling and remembering the performance, the latest studies have examined this
relationship in depth. But, in this article, it has been found that the word recalling
performance differs at different stages of life, thus, age plays a humongous role in recalling
words (Krueger & Salthouse, 2011). Therefore, the main research question for this article is,
“The significance of the cognitive abilities in improving word recall performance of
individuals belonging to different age groups.” The main hypothesis is that age plays a
crucial role in recalling words, as with the increasing age the memory of a person weakens, in
such circumstances, cognitive abilities can help people with better performance. The
methodology that was utilized in this article is a test which is conducted with 2497
participants belonging to the age group of 18-98 years. These participants were offered with
multi-trial word list test that has words of various segments which mean first, middle, and last
word (Whitley et al., 2016). In addition to this, the methodology also includes a cognitive
abilities test. From this test, the results obtained highlighted the fact that a high level of
episodic capability was associated with recalling the words in a better way in all list segments
(Med Biol Res, 2009). But in the early trials, the results obtained highlighted the fact that
people had difficulties in remembering the last segment words. Also, it was identified that the
performance of people improved with more and more trials. In addition to this, it was also
found that people belonging to advanced age had a weak performance level, also, there were
only few age relations which were helpful in the test. Thus, it can be concluded that repetitive
trials help in improving word recall performance, also cognitive abilities are more helpful
than age relations (Craik, 2014).

Impact of Cognitive Abilities and Age on Word Recall Performance 3
References
Craik, F. (2014). Effects of distraction on memory and cognition: a commentary. Frontiers in
Psychology, 5(1), 1-6.
*Krueger, L., & Salthouse, T. (2011). Influence of Cognitive Abilities and Age on Word
Recall Performance Across Trials and List Segments. The American Journal Of
Psychology, 124(3), 291-300.
Med Biol Res, B. (2009). Cognitive performance of young and elderly subjects on the free
word recall memory test: effect of presentation order on recall order. Brazilian Journal
Of Medical And Biological Research, 42(10), 988-992.
Whitley, E., Deary, I., Ritchie, S., Batty, G., Kumari, M., & Benzeval, M. (2016). Variations
in cognitive abilities across the life course: Cross-sectional evidence from Understanding
Society: The UK Household Longitudinal Study. Intelligence, 59(1), 39-50.