Strategy Use

Abstract

SynonymsStrategic processing; Strategic variationsDefinitionStrategy use refers to the sets of procedures employed to accomplish a cognitive task. With aging, changes in every strategy dimensions are observed.Research in cognitive aging aims at knowing what changes in human cognition with age and how age-related changes occur. Determining what changes in human cognition entails examining which cognitive functions decline and which ones remain stable (or even improve) with age. Deciphering how changes occur means trying to understand mechanisms underlying both age changes and age invariance in cognitive performance. Investigating strategy use in young and older adults contributes to achieve these two main goals. In this article, strategy use and other strategic variations in human cognition and when strategic variations occur during cognitive aging are first discussed. Then, an elaboration on factors and mechanisms driving strategic variations during adulthood is provided.Strategic Vari ...