Age-Related Differences in the Acquisition,Transfer,and Retention of Using an Automatic Teller Machine

Abstract

The present study trained older and younger adults to use a simulated automatic teller machine. Training consisted of practice on transactions with immediate, substantial feedback provided by the experimenter. Both younger and older adults' performance improved with practice on the task. Performance declined when participants had to transfer to related transaction types on a different version of the simulator. After a one month retention interval, no significant declines in performance were detected for the transfer task. Older adults were shown to have achieved higher levels of performance than seen in related types of studies, and were able to transfer and retain performance ability.