Alternative mechanisms for improvements in fluid ability performance among older adults.

ABSTRACT

To cross-validate and extend previous work regarding fluid ability training, I randomly assigned 256 community-living older participants to either induction training, stress inoculation training, or nocontact control groups. Practice effects were common to almost all of the ability measures, whereas training effects were specific to measures of inductive reasoning. Both training groups demonstrated greater immediate posttest gains in Letter Sets performance relative to control groups, which were maintained to the greatest extent one month later for the induction training group. The control and stress inoculation groups experienced slight declines one month later, although performance differences still favored the later. For Letter Series, one week follow-up findings favored both induction and stress inoculation conditions, whereas only the stress inoculation group demonstrated gains at one month follow-up. No differential pattern of training transfer to other components of Gf-Gc was observed. These data suggest alternative means by which the facilitation of intellectual competence in older adults may be accomplished.