scholarly journals Structural invariance of declarative knowledge across the adult lifespan.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc Watrin ◽  
Ulrich Schroeders ◽  
Oliver Wilhelm
Keyword(s):  
Declarative Knowledge ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Structural Invariance

scholarly journals Structural Invariance of Declarative Knowledge Across the Adult Lifespan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc Watrin ◽  
Ulrich Schroeders ◽  
Oliver Wilhelm
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
Compulsory Education ◽  
Declarative Knowledge ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Investment Theory ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Structure Of Knowledge

The differentiation-dedifferentiation hypothesis of general cognitive ability has been widely studied, but comparable research on crystallized intelligence is scarce. To close this gap, we conducted an empirical test of the age differentiation hypothesis of declarative knowledge as proposed in Cattell's investment theory, which predicts that knowledge differentiates into diverse forms after compulsory education ends. Thereto, a cross-sectional sample of 1,629 participants aged 18 to 70 years (M = 45.3) completed a comprehensive knowledge test comprising 120 broadly sampled questions from 12 knowledge domains, as well as a measure of openness. To investigate age-related differences in the level and structure of knowledge, we performed invariance tests in local structural equation models. The results did not provide any evidence for age-related differentiation of declarative knowledge but indicated age-related differences in the mean structure. Higher levels in openness were associated with higher levels in knowledge but not with more differentiated structure of knowledge. Contrary to predictions of the investment theory, our results suggest that declarative knowledge is a highly stable construct across major parts of the adult lifespan.

Computer Reconstruction of the Cellular Architecture of the Daphnia Magna Optic Ganglion

1975 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 284-285
Author(s):  
E. R. Macagno ◽  
C. Levinthal
Keyword(s):  
Daphnia Magna ◽  
Genetic Background ◽  
Compound Eye ◽  
Synaptic Connectivity ◽  
Serial Sections ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Small Crustacean ◽  
Optic Ganglion ◽  
Structural Invariance ◽  
High Degree

The optic ganglion of Daphnia Magna, a small crustacean that reproduces parthenogenetically contains about three hundred neurons: 110 neurons in the Lamina or anterior region and about 190 neurons in the Medulla or posterior region. The ganglion lies in the midplane of the organism and shows a high degree of left-right symmetry in its structures. The Lamina neurons form the first projection of the visual output from 176 retinula cells in the compound eye. In order to answer questions about structural invariance under constant genetic background, we have begun to reconstruct in detail the morphology and synaptic connectivity of various neurons in this ganglion from electron micrographs of serial sections (1). The ganglion is sectioned in a dorso-ventra1 direction so as to minimize the cross-sectional area photographed in each section. This area is about 60 μm x 120 μm, and hence most of the ganglion fit in a single 70 mm micrograph at the lowest magnification (685x) available on our Zeiss EM9-S.

Conflict Avoidance in Old Age

GeroPsych ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Oberhauser ◽  
Andreas B. Neubauer ◽  
Eva-Marie Kessler
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Conflict Avoidance ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Set Up

Abstract. Conflict avoidance increases across the adult lifespan. This cross-sectional study looks at conflict avoidance as part of a mechanism to regulate belongingness needs ( Sheldon, 2011 ). We assumed that older adults perceive more threats to their belongingness when they contemplate their future, and that they preventively react with avoidance coping. We set up a model predicting conflict avoidance that included perceptions of future nonbelonging, termed anticipated loneliness, and other predictors including sociodemographics, indicators of subjective well-being and perceived social support (N = 331, aged 40–87). Anticipated loneliness predicted conflict avoidance above all other predictors and partially mediated the age-association of conflict avoidance. Results suggest that belongingness regulation accounts may deepen our understanding of conflict avoidance in the second half of life.

I Rate My Memory Quite Similar at Age 40 and at Age 70

GeroPsych ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-244
Author(s):  
Boo Johansson ◽  
Marcus Praetorius Björk ◽  
Valgeir Thorvaldsson
Keyword(s):  
Change Score ◽  
Subjective Memory ◽  
Memory Decline ◽  
Memory Factor ◽  
Invariance Testing ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Memory Functioning ◽  
Acceptable Model ◽  
Score Model ◽  
Old Men

Abstract. In 1987, we administered a subjective memory questionnaire to 143 40-year-old men, and 30 years later 67 of them again responded to the same questionnaire at age 70. At the follow-up, we also instructed participants to answer the questionnaire in the same manner as they thought they did at age 40 and to perform a picture recognition and a public event test. We employed confirmatory factor analysis to model a latent subjective memory construct. A single-factor solution provided acceptable model fit to data (χ2(12) = 9.33, p = .68; χ2(12) = 10.48, p = .57) and a decent reliability at both ages for the subjective memory measurements (omega = .82 and .93, respectively). Our longitudinal invariance testing revealed only a partial weak invariance. We also fitted a latent change-score model to the data. As expected, participants on average rated their memory as poorer at age 70 than at 40. Those who reported better overall health and less anxiety reported less memory decline up to age 70. Notably, this was also the case for those who rated memory as worse at age 40. Higher stress and depression at age 70, however, were associated with worse subjective memory already at age 40. The correspondences between memory ratings and tests were low. The correlation between the subjective memory factors at age 40 and 70 was 0.58, while the correlation between the memory factor at age 70 and the retrospective subjective memory factor was 0.87. Our findings suggest that subjective memory is quite consistent, and that we are inclined to preserve the continuity of our own memory functioning over the adult lifespan.

Measurement Invariance Analysis of the Parental Stress Index

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 771-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Piskernik ◽  
Barbara Supper ◽  
Lieselotte Ahnert
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Parental Stress ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Factor Analyses ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Structural Invariance ◽  
Parent Domain ◽  
Structural Levels

Abstract. While parenting research continues to compare similarities and differences in mothers’ and fathers’ behaviors based on mean values on the respective dimensions, measurement invariance as a prerequisite for these comparisons has seldom been assured. The present study thus subjected the well-known Parenting Stress Index (PSI), widely used in models of family functioning, to a rigorous measurement invariance analysis based on ( N = 214) Austrian couples with children younger than 3 years of age. We evaluated configural, metric, scalar, and uniqueness invariance on item and subscale levels, and tested for structural invariance of means and variances of the PSI parent and child domain by second-order confirmatory factor analyses. As a result, only measurement differences on the scalar levels affected the factor scores, though negligibly. On the structural levels, no differences were found on the PSI child domain across parents, but on the PSI parent domain, mothers reported more stress.

Retrospective Paternal and Maternal Parenting Styles in Greece, Italy, and Sweden

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 399-408
Author(s):  
Semira Tagliabue ◽  
Maria Giulia Olivari ◽  
Elisabeth Hertfelt Wahn ◽  
Katerina Maridaki-Kassotaki ◽  
Katerina Antonopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parenting Styles ◽  
Psychometric Characteristics ◽  
Perceived Parenting ◽  
Parental Roles ◽  
Maternal Parenting ◽  
Mixed Anova ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Permissive Parenting ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Structural Invariance

Abstract. Discrepancies in perceived parenting and parental roles across European countries could be due to the use of different assessment techniques or due to mean level differences in the authoritative, authoritarian, or permissive parenting styles. The present study aimed to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ; Robinson, Mandleco, Olsen, & Hart, 1995 , 2001 ) in a sample of 225 Greek, 301 Italian, and 279 Swedish adolescents aged 16–19 years, who evaluated their father’s and mother’s parenting styles during their childhood. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), multigroup CFA, and modified version of the correlated uniqueness model were used to evaluate the structure and invariance of the scale across countries. Measurement and structural invariance was found in the 8-item authoritative scale and 6-item authoritarian scale. A mixed ANOVA (Country × Style × Role) showed that Swedish mothers scored lower than Italian or Greek mothers, and that, in the three countries, mothers were perceived as more authoritative than were fathers.

A Confirmatory Factor Analytic Study of Anxiety, Fear, and Behavioral Inhibition System Measures

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 179-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Cooper ◽  
Adam M. Perkins ◽  
Philip J. Corr
Keyword(s):  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Behavioral Inhibition ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Behavioral Inhibition System ◽  
Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory ◽  
Factor Analytic ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Structural Invariance ◽  
Fear And Anxiety

Abstract. Recent revisions to the reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) of personality have highlighted the distinction between the emotions of fear and anxiety. These revisions have substantial implications for self-report measurement; in particular, they raise the question of whether separate traits of fear and anxiety exist and, if so, their interrelationship. To address this question, the current study used confirmatory factor analytic procedures to examine the convergent and discriminant validity of measures of trait anxiety, fear, and the behavioral inhibition system (BIS). We also examined measurement and structural invariance across gender in 167 males and 173 females who completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Carver and White BIS Scale, and the Fear Survey Schedule (FSS). The findings suggested that trait anxiety and the BIS scale are relatively distinct from Tissue Damage Fear (FSS). Further, the final model showed measurement and structural invariance across gender. The implications of the results for future self-report assessment in RST research are discussed.

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