Psychology and Aging · 2002 · 198 citations · 42 references
Social SciencesPsychologySocial PsychologyCognitive PsychologyDevelopmental PsychologySocial CognitionAge DifferencesImplicit MemoryPerson PerceptionSocial JudgmentAge-related Social DifferencesImplicit Learning Across Age GroupsImplicit Social CognitionImplicit Social JudgmentSocial Cognition In Aging
Two studies investigated the use of the Implicit Association Test (IAT; A. G. Greenwald, D. E. McGhee, & J. L. K. Schwartz, 1998) to study age differences in implicit social cognitions. Study I collected IAT (implicit) and explicit (self-report) measures of age attitudes, age identity, and self-esteem from young, young-old, and old-old participants. Study 2 collected IAT and explicit measures of attitudes toward flowers versus insects from young and old participants. Results show that the IAT provided theoretically meaningful insights into age differences in social cognitions that the explicit measures did not, supporting the value of the IAT in aging research. Results also illustrate that age-related slowing must be considered in analysis and interpretation of IAT measures.
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