NEWS RELEASE
July 29 2003
Older
people may be experts in thinking it through
The
proverb may claim that “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks” but
perhaps older people already know the tricks.
A groundbreaking study to be undertaken by the University of South
Australia is set to find out how simply the experience of life may indeed
make older people real experts.
In
a new way of looking at aging, UniSA researchers are turning the spotlight
on aspects of positive development that occur throughout the lifespan with
a special focus on mapping thinking processes.
The
researchers are looking at how thinking changes with age and whether the
links between the things that we know become increasingly complex. Having
to sort through such a complex network may be one reason why older adults
have so-called memory difficulties.
“We
are starting out with the hypothesis that throughout life people develop
knowledge through experience ultimately making them ‘thinking
experts’,” principal researcher for the study from UniSA’s School of
Psychology, Dr Rob Ranzijn said.
“We
are hoping to define what that means - how people build on knowledge and
experience, work with that information and apply it in their lives.”
The
researchers are looking for two groups of volunteers to take part in the
study – people between the ages of 18 and 30 and a second group of over
65s. Data will be collected from one-on-one interviews to be held at
UniSA’s Magill campus. Participants will be asked to complete several tests and will
be offered $20 for their contribution.
People
interested in participating are invited to contact Dr Rob Ranzijn on (08)
8302 4468 or Rob.Ranzijn@unisa.edu.au
or Ms Bridget Garnham, research assistant, on (08) 8302 4327 or Bridget.Garnham@unisa.edu.au
for further information.
Media
contact: Michèle Nardelli (08) 8302 0966 or 0418823673
Need an expert? Find one at UniSA’s online
Directory of Experts - http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/MDU/MDU-search.asp
.
