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Updated: May 15, 2026
06:58
Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
Updating misconceptions: effects of age and confidence
Andrée-Ann Cyr1, Nicole D Anderson
1Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. andreeann.cyr@gmail.com
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|December 21, 2012
Summary
Older adults, like younger adults, demonstrate the hypercorrection effect, correcting high-confidence errors more than low-confidence ones. This indicates effective error resolution in older adults when learning contexts are supportive.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- The hypercorrection effect, where individuals correct high-confidence errors more than low-confidence ones, is well-documented in young adults.
- This phenomenon has not been previously explored in older adults, despite potential age-related deficits in error resolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether older adults exhibit the hypercorrection effect.
- To compare the hypercorrection effect between younger and older adults across different experimental paradigms.
Main Methods:
- Study 1 employed free recall with a 7-point confidence scale.
- Study 2 utilized multiple-choice questions with a measure of narrowed-down alternatives before answering.
Main Results:
- Both younger and older adults displayed a hypercorrection effect in both studies.
- The hypercorrection effect was equivalent between age groups in Study 2, particularly when explicit confidence ratings and free recall were not mandated.
Conclusions:
- Older adults demonstrate the hypercorrection effect, similar to younger adults.
- Effective error resolution in older adults is supported when the learning context provides adequate scaffolding.
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