An Evaluation of Quantity Conservation Performance during Old Age

Abstract

Forty eight subjects ranging in age from 64 to 85 years were administered Piagetian conservation of substance, weight, and volume tasks. Quantity conservation abilities were not intact from many subjects. Males tended to exceed females on all abilities. Correlations between age and performance were low; the relationship between education and performance was positive.

Cognitive Functioning in Middle and Old Age Adults

“…Of the various conservation measures, volume conservation was generally the ability most markedly affected by educational attainment of elderly subjects in those studies in which this relationship was analyzed [Papalia, 1972;Papalia et al, 1973b]. This is in basic accord with the theoretical predictions of Inhelder and P iaget [1958], who regard formal operations as more highly subject to environmental influences than are concrete operations.…”

“…This is in basic accord with the theoretical predictions of Inhelder and P iaget [1958], who regard formal operations as more highly subject to environmental influences than are concrete operations. In addition, elderly subjects with moderate or severe degrees of chronic organic brain syndrome performed less well on volume measures than did subjects considered free of organic brain syndrome [Papalia et al, 1973b].…”

“…Several of the studies summarized above compared performance on concrete and formal measures of conservation ability [Eisner, 1973;Papalia, 1972;Papalia et al, 1973b;Storck et al, 1972], In general, subjects of all ages were found to perform less well on the formal measures (i.e., volume conservation) than on the different concrete tasks (e.g., substance, weight, number, and surface area conservation). Volume conserva tion performance was at its highest level during middle age, with 75% of subjects passing the task as compared to 50% of college-age subjects, the next highest group [Papalia, 1972].…”

“…Volume conserva tion performance was at its highest level during middle age, with 75% of subjects passing the task as compared to 50% of college-age subjects, the next highest group [Papalia, 1972]. Many elderly subjects are unable to conserve volume [Eisner, 1973;Papalia et al, 1973b;Storck et al, 1972]. It should be noted that the failure of college students to conserve volume has been observed previously [Elkind, 1962].…”

Everyday Thinking and Piagetian Operativity in Adults

“…Investigators using Piagetian tasks, designed for children, have fallen into the same pattern, seeking regressions with age and ignoring midlife. Early formulations of the theory included the assumption that virtually all adults achieved mastery of concrete and formal operations at some point in young adulthood, most commonly in their late teens and that poor performance in older adults indicated 'regression with age' (Inhelder andPiaget, 1958: de Ajuriaguerra el al., 1965;Papalia, 1972;Sanders et al, 1966;Denney and Lennon, 1972;Papalia et al, 1973). Lovell (1961 ), Smedslund (1963), andTomlinson-Keasey (1972) have questioned this assumption in regard to formal operations, based on their findings that large proportions of subjects in late adolescence, early adulthood, and middle age did not pass formal operational tasks.…”