Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol 51, Issue 3 P155-P165, Copyright © 1996 by The Gerontological Society of America
Predicting age-related differences in visual information processing using a two-stage queuing model
RD Ellis, JH Goldberg and MC Detweiler
Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
Recent work on age-related differences in some types of visual information
processing has qualitatively stated that younger adults are able to develop
parallel processing capability, while older adults remain serial
processors. A mathematical model based on queuing theory was used to
quantitatively predict and parameterize age-related differences in the
perceptual encoding and central decision-making aspects of a multiple-frame
search task. Statistical results indicated main effects for frame duration,
display load, age group, and session of practice. Comparison of the full
model and a restricted model indicated an efficient contribution of the
encoding speed parameter. The best-fitting parameter set indicated that (1)
younger participants processed task information with a two-channel parallel
system, while older participants were serial processors; and (2) perceptual
encoding had a large impact on age-related differences in task performance.
Results are discussed with implications for human factors design
principles.
