Katie E. Cherry

Individual difference and contextual variables influence spatial memory in younger and older adults.

This study examined the influence of individual difference and contextual variables on the magnitude of age differences in memory for spatial location. Younger adults and 2 samples of older adults that differed in educational attainment, verbal intelligence, and working memory ability were compared. Ss studied and later recreated an arrangement of small objects that were placed on a plain map or a visually distinctive model. The objects were either unrelated or categorically related items. The results indicated that distinctive context enhanced spatial memory, and the magnitude of the benefit was generally comparable across age groups and stimulus sets. Hierarchical regression analyses confirmed that working memory resources accounted for a sizable proportion of age-related variance in memory for spatial location. The implications of these results for current views on age-related differences in memory for spatial location are discussed.

A validity study on the Questions About Behavioral Function (QABF) Scale: predicting treatment success for self-injury, aggression, and stereotypies.

We investigated the validity of the Questions About Behavioral Function (QABF), a checklist designed to assess antecedent behavior, using a sample of 398 persons with mental retardation and a targeted maladaptive behavior of self-injurious behavior, aggression, or stereotypies. The QABF was used successfully to derive clear behavioral functions for most individuals (84%) across all three target behaviors. Further, subjects with treatments developed from functional assessment (QABF results) improved significantly when compared to controls receiving standard treatments not based on functional analysis. Implications of the present findings for assessing and treating maladaptive behaviors are discussed.

An analysis of maladaptive behaviors in persons with autism, PDD-NOS, and mental retardation

In this study, we examined three maladaptive behaviors, self-injurious behavior (SIB), stereotypies, and aggression in adults with autism, pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and mental retardation. We used a brief functional analysis rating scale. The Questions About Behavioral Functions (QABF), to examine the function of each behavior. Across the three groups, our results indicated that aggression was primarily maintained for attentional reasons and stereotypies for nonsocial reasons. No specific function(s) were found to maintain SIB. These results suggest that the function of a maladaptive behavior may be associated more with the particular maladaptive behavior displayed rather than inclusion in a certain diagnostic group. Implications of findings for assessment and treatment issues are discussed.

Age and individual differences influence prospective memory

The influence of age and individual ability differences on event-based prospective memory was examined using an adapted version of G. O. Einstein and M. A. McDaniels (1990) task. Two samples of younger and older adults who differed in educational attainment, occupational status, and verbal ability were compared. Results yield comparable prospective performance for the younger groups and higher ability older adults; lower ability older adults performed more poorly by comparison. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that working memory span and recognition accounted for small but significant proportions of variance in prospective performance. The contribution of ability level to prospective memory remained significant even after statistically controlling for self-reported health and social activity characteristics. Implications for current views on prospective memory aging are discussed.

The relationship of self-injurious behavior and aggression to social skills in persons with severe and profound learning disability.

In this study, we investigated differences in social skills among four groups of individuals with severe and profound learning disabilities. The comparison groups were composed of individuals engaging in self-injurious behavior, aggression, both behaviors, or neither of the behaviors. We measured social skills using the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills for Individuals with Severe Retardation, a standardized assessment of social skills in persons with severe or profound learning disability. The results indicated that individuals displaying maladaptive behaviors exhibited a restricted range of social behaviors compared to controls. Also, group membership based on self-injury and aggression was predicted based on profiles of scores on the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills for Individuals with Severe Retardation. These findings are consistent with reports in other studies that note social skills deficits in aggressive and self-injurious persons with learning disabilities. However, in this case a standardized assessment of these deficits was possible and specific skills problems were identified. Implications of the findings for identification and treatment of self-injury and aggression are discussed.

A Comparison of Social Skills in Adults with Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, and Mental Retardation.

We examined the social skills of adults with autism, PDDNOS, and mental retardation. All participants were diagnosed with profound mental retardation. Participants in the autism and PDDNOS groups had been previously diagnosed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and record review. These diagnoses were confirmed by readministering the CARS by one author and an independent rater. Social skills were assessed by using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills in the Severely Retarded. Significant differences between the autism and mental retardation groups were found on both measures. The PDDNOS group demonstrated better positive nonverbal social skills than the autism group but not the mental retardation group. Special treatment needs of institutionalized adults with autism appear warranted along with a need to clarify further the differences between PDDNOS and mental retardation.

An evaluation of functional variables affecting severe problem behaviors in adults with mental retardation by using the Questions about Behavioral Function Scale (QABF).

We examined the functions of five severe problem behaviors in a sample of 417 institutionalized persons with mental retardation by using the Questions About Behavior Function Scale. The behaviors we examined included self-injurious behavior, aggression, stereotypies, pica, and rumination. The most common function for all behaviors except aggression was nonsocial. Aggression, however, was maintained by external environmental contingencies. Particular items of the Questions About Behavior Function Scale were identified as more frequently occurring and critical in ascertaining behavioral function. Implications of these results for developing more effective treatment plans are discussed.

The Effects of Age, Ability, and Memory Monitoring on Prospective Memory Task Performance

In this study we examined the influences of age, ability, and monitoring on event-based prospective memory performance. Two samples of younger and older adults who differed in educational attainment and verbal ability were compared. Monitoring of the prospective task was measured through use of an on-line thought probe. Results yielded comparable prospective memory performance for the age/ability groups. On-line monitoring responses revealed a higher frequency of task-irrelevant thoughts among younger adults compared to older adults. However, on-line monitoring data were not related to prospective memory performance. Recognition memory was the strongest predictor of successful prospective memory, followed by working memory. These findings and their implications for current conceptions of prospective memory aging are discussed.

Prospective remembering in younger and older adults: Role of the prospective cue

In these studies, adult age differences in event-based prospective memory were examined using an adapted version of G.O. Einstein and M.A. McDaniels (1990) task. In Experiments 13, we varied prospective cue specificity by assigning a specific target word or an unspecified word drawn from a given taxonomic category. In Experiment 3, we manipulated cue typicality by presenting low or high typicality target words. Results yielded positive effects of cue specificity on prospective performance. Age effects occurred when high typicality target words served as prospective cues (Exps. 1 and 3), but younger and older adults performed comparably with moderate and low typicality words (Exps. 2 and 3). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that age accounted for a small but significant amount of variance in prospective memory, although the contribution of age was substantially reduced after statistically controlling for recognition memory. Implications of these data for current views on prospective remembering are discussed.

Relating to Older People Evaluation (ROPE): A Measure of Self-Reported Ageism.

The Relating to Older People Evaluation (ROPE) is a 20-item questionnaire that measures positive and negative ageist behaviors that people may engage in during everyday life. In this article, we report the first findings from several administrations of the ROPE along with initial psychometric information on the instrument. Respondents were college students, community-dwelling older adults, and persons affiliated with a university community. Results indicate that most people of all ages readily admit to positive ageist behaviors. Younger and older adults appear to participate in similar amounts of ageist behavior. Analyses by gender indicated that women endorsed the positive ageism items more often than did men. Psychometric analyses yielded estimates of adequate test-retest reliability and internal consistency reliability. Implications for current views of ageism as a social phenomenon and strategies for reducing ageist behaviors in everyday life are discussed.