Effects of Individual Differences and Situational Features on Age Differences in Mindless Reading

The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Matthew C ShakeAngelica M Soto-Freita

Abstract

Mindless reading occurs when an individual shifts their attention away from the text and toward other off-task thoughts. This study examined whether previously reported age-related declines in mindless reading episodes are due primarily to (a) situational features related to the text itself (e.g., text genre or interest in the text) and/or (b) individual differences in cognitive ability. Participants read 2 texts written in different genres but about the same topic. During reading, they were randomly probed to indicate whether they were on-task or mind-wandering. They also indicated their perceptions regarding the interest and difficulty of the text, and completed a battery of cognitive ability measures. The results showed that (a) text genre may engender some age differences in mindless reading and (b) greater age and perceived interest in the text were each uniquely predictive of reduced mindless reading for both text genres. Individual differences in cognitive abilities (e.g., working memory, vocabulary) did not account for additional significant variance in mindless reading after interest and age were taken into account. Our findings are discussed in terms of implications for age differences in lapses of attention during re...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1989·Psychology and Aging·Leonard M Giambra
Apr 1, 1995·Psychological Review·K A Ericsson, W Kintsch
Apr 17, 2001·Psychology and Aging·G A RadvanskyD E Copeland
Jan 1, 1997·Annual Review of Psychology·A C GraesserR A Zwaan
Nov 24, 2004·Memory & Cognition·Elizabeth A L Stine-MorrowBarbara Herman DeWall
Mar 10, 2006·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Andrew R A ConwayRandall W Engle
Jul 11, 2006·Psychological Bulletin·Elizabeth A L Stine-MorrowChristopher Hertzog
Nov 1, 2006·Psychological Bulletin·Jonathan Smallwood, Jonathan W Schooler
Jan 5, 2007·Psychology and Aging·Elizabeth A L Stine-MorrowSoo Rim Noh
Jan 31, 2008·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Gabrel A Radvansky, Katinka Dijkstra
Mar 26, 2008·Psychology and Aging·Elizabeth A L Stine-MorrowChristopher Hertzog
Oct 18, 2008·Memory & Cognition·Jonathan SmallwoodJonathan W Schooler
Feb 13, 2009·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·Jennifer C McVay, Michael J Kane
May 9, 2009·Psychological Science·Michael A SayetteJonathan W Schooler
Nov 27, 2009·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Elizabeth A L Stine-MorrowMatthew C Shake
Mar 24, 2010·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·E Tory HigginsThane Pittman
Apr 29, 2010·Psychological Science·Michael A SayetteErik D Reichle
Aug 4, 2010·Psychological Science·Erik D ReichleJonathan W Schooler
Nov 13, 2010·Science·Matthew A Killingsworth, Daniel T Gilbert
Aug 31, 2011·Journal of Experimental Psychology. General·Jennifer C McVay, Michael J Kane
Oct 15, 2011·Neuropsychology, Development, and Cognition. Section B, Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition·Matthew C Shake, Elizabeth A L Stine-Morrow
Oct 19, 2011·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·Jennifer C McVay, Michael J Kane
Jun 13, 2012·Psychology and Aging·Sabine A KrawietzGabriel A Radvansky
Aug 7, 2012·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Melissa G HayesAnderson D Smith
Aug 22, 2012·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·Nash Unsworth, Brittany D McMillan
Feb 13, 2013·Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology = Revue Canadienne De Psychologie Expérimentale·Peter Dixon, Marisa Bortolussi
Mar 6, 2013·Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology = Revue Canadienne De Psychologie Expérimentale·Benjamin W Mooneyham, Jonathan W Schooler
Mar 6, 2013·Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology = Revue Canadienne De Psychologie Expérimentale·Jonathan S A CarriereDaniel Smilek
Mar 6, 2013·Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology = Revue Canadienne De Psychologie Expérimentale·Tom FoulshamAlan Kingstone
Apr 24, 2013·Psychological Bulletin·Michael S FranklinJonathan W Schooler
Dec 3, 2013·Acta Psychologica·Michela ZavagninRossana De Beni
Jan 29, 2014·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Stéphanie Sylvain-RoySylvie Belleville
Sep 6, 2014·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Brennan R Payne, Elizabeth A L Stine-Morrow
Nov 15, 2014·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Brandon P VasquezNicole D Anderson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 12, 2019·Geriatrics & Gerontology International·Mohamad El HajKarim Gallouj
May 14, 2018·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Kieran C R FoxKalina Christoff
Apr 10, 2021·Psychiatry Research·Mohamad El Haj, Jean-Louis Nandrino

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.