Short-Term Retest Performance in Young versus Older Adults: Consideration of Integrated Speed-Accuracy Measures

ABSTRACT

Objectives

The current research addressed gaps in the literature regarding short-term computerized cognitive retest performance in young and older adults using two integrated speed-accuracy metrics. The aims were: (a) to advance the aging literature on short-term retest performance using a computerized cognitive battery and a retest schedule that included both within- and between-day time points, and (b) to assess the test-retest reliability of two integrated speed-accuracy metrics, inverse efficiency scores (IES) and balanced integration scores (BIS).

Method

Twenty young (18–23 years) and thirty older (65–71 years) men completed a battery measuring a range of cognitive functions, six times over three testing days, each 1 week apart.

Result

Compared to young adults, older adults exhibited steeper within- and between-day performance gains in IES and BIS, which may reflect a combination of lower initial cognitive ability and familiarity, indicating that older adults may require more familiarization on computerized tests. Relative to unadjusted reaction times, IES reliability appeared comparable in older adults, but slightly lower among young adults. The reliability of BIS was lower than unadjusted reaction times and IES in both age groups.

Discussion

Our findings provide guidance for researchers wanting to combine speed and accuracy into a single performance metric in repeated testing contexts.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a University of Otago research grant. The authors thank Larnee Flannery, Bridget Forsyth, Amelia Lee, and Alice McClintock for their assistance with this project.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Otago Research grant.