T R Coyle | PubMed Health

PubMed2001

Factor analysis of variability measures in eight independent samples of children and adults.

Variability in strategy use has been measured and conceptualized in several ways. The present study sought to determine whether a sample of variability measures could be reduced to a smaller number of factors that the individual measures had in common. Factor analysis of five commonly used variability measures was performed separately on data from eight independent samples of children and adults. The results revealed that the variability measures could be reduced to one of two general types of variability: strategy diversity, which refers to the sheer number of strategies used, and strategy change, which refers to the number of trial-by-trial changes in strategy use. Support for this two-factor model of variability was found for all samples of children and adults. Moreover, each type of variability had distinctive relations with cognitive performance that varied with age. In general, strategy diversity was positively related to recall for children but not adults, whereas strategy change was negatively related to recall for adults but not children. Based on this evidence, three recommendations for researchers studying strategy variability are described.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Age differences in, and consequences of, multiple- and variable-strategy use on a multitrial sort-recall task.

Second-, 3rd-, and 4th-grade children were given 5 sort-recall trials with different sets of categorizable items. The authors assessed multiple-strategy use on each trial and related intertrial changes in strategy use to levels of recall. Multiple-strategy use increased with age but was observed at all grades. Fourth graders who used more strategies had higher recall, with this pattern occurring only on later trials for 2nd and 3rd graders. Children of all ages showed substantial intertrial variability in using multiple strategies. Stable-strategy use (few strategy changes across trials) was related to high levels of recall, both for individual and group data, and was associated with the use of different numbers of strategies at different ages. Results were interpreted in light of new research and theory postulating that multiple- and variable-strategy use is the rule rather than the exception in development and that strategies do not always facilitate task performance (utilization deficiencies).

Age Factors↗