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Everyday Cognition

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Encyclopedia of Geropsychology

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Synonyms

Everyday problem-solving

Definition

Everyday cognition refers to the ability of individuals to solve cognitively complex real-world or “everyday” problems. Specifically, studies of everyday cognition focus on assessing the real-world manifestation of basic cognitive abilities such as memory, reasoning, knowledge, and processing speed by testing older adults’ ability to solve problems using ecologically valid stimuli such as a medication label or food nutrition label.

Everyday Cognition and Everyday Problem-Solving

Terms such as “practical problem-solving” or “everyday/real-world problem-solving” are used interchangeably, and both are often applied to studies of everyday cognition. However, practical or everyday/real-world problem-solving refers to the larger domain of research focused on examining the ability of older adults to solve any kind of real-world problem. Everyday cognition refers to a subdomain of practical or everyday/real-world problem-solving, which is...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh-Durham, NC, USA

    Jason C. Allaire

  2. School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MHC 1340, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Alyssa A. Gamlado

Authors
  1. Jason C. Allaire
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  2. Alyssa A. Gamlado
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason C. Allaire .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Nancy A. Pachana

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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

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Allaire, J., Gamlado, A. (2016). Everyday Cognition. In: Pachana, N. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_252-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_252-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-287-080-3

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