This study examined the relationship between age-related cognitive decline and internet performance in older adults. The results showed: 1. Processing speed and accuracy on information-finding tasks declined with age. 2. When dividing older adults into high- and low-functioning groups based on processing speed and vocabulary tests, the low-functioning older adults performed worse than the high-functioning older adults and younger adults. 3. The findings suggest that age-related cognitive decline can impact older adults' internet experiences, and user experience testing should account for variability in cognitive abilities across age groups.

1. Processing Speed and Vocabulary
Are Related to Older Adults’
Internet Experiences*
Jen Romano-Bergstrom | Facebook | JenRB@fb.com
Erica Olmsted-Hawala | US Census Bureau
Wendy Rogers | Georgia Institute of Technology
#HCII2015
@romanocog
* Best Paper Award of the 1st International Conference on Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population
Aug 5, 2015
HCII | Los Angeles, CA

2. Aging and the brain
2
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Source: http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/06/26/americans-internet-access-2000-
2015/

3. Aging and the brain
3
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@romanocog
Source:
http://faculty.virginia.edu/cogage/publications2/Salthouse%20(2009)%20When%20do
es%20age-related%20cognitive%20decline%20begin.pdf

4. Aging and the brain
4
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@romanocog

5. This study
Goal: Examine the relationship between age-related
cognitive decline and Internet performance.
1. Cognitive battery
• Processing Speed
a. Backward counting task
b. WAIS Digit Symbol Coding task
• Vocabulary: Shipley Vocabulary test
2. Computer and Internet Experience Questionnaire
3. Five Information-Finding Tasks on Census Website
4. Satisfaction Questionnaire
5
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6. Participants
6
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@romanocog
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Younger Middle Older
Younger Middle-age Older
N 21 19 21
Gender 15 F / 6 M 10 F / 9 M 12 F / 9 M
Age 23 (18-28) 46 (40-51) 68 (65-76)
Difficulty w learning new websites, p<.01
1:Notdifficultatall–5:Extremelydifficult

7. Participants
7
#HCII2015
@romanocog
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Younger Middle Older
Younger Middle-age Older
N 21 19 21
Gender 15 F / 6 M 10 F / 9 M 12 F / 9 M
Age 23 (18-28) 46 (40-51) 68 (65-76)
Difficulty w learning new websites, p<.01
1:Notdifficultatall–5:Extremelydifficult

8. Participants
8
#HCII2015
@romanocog
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Younger Middle Older
Younger Middle-age Older
N 21 19 21
Gender 15 F / 6 M 10 F / 9 M 12 F / 9 M
Age 23 (18-28) 46 (40-51) 68 (65-76)
Difficulty w learning new websites, p<.01
1:Notdifficultatall–5:Extremelydifficult
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Younger Middle Older
Backward Counting, p<.001 Digit Symbol Coding, p=.0001
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Younger Middle Older
Processing Speed 20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
Younger Middle Older
Vocabulary, p=.43
Verbal Ability

9. Q1: Are there age-related
differences in performance?
9
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Efficiency, in seconds, p=.36
0
50
100
150
200
250
Younger Middle Older
Satisfaction, p=.26
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Younger Middle Older
Accuracy, p=.06
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Younger Middle Older
p<.01

10. 10
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@romanocogQ2: Do varying levels of cognitive
function impact performance?
a. Backward Counting Task
Younger HF Older LF Older
N 21 7 7
Scores 51 (34-75) (53) 43-60 (76) 72-84
p<.0001
Tukey HSD post hoc test:
Low-functioning Older > High-functioning Older,
p<.01
Low-functioning Older > Younger, p<.01
High-functioning Older = Younger
Accuracy, p<.05
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Younger HF Older LF Older
Efficiency, in seconds, p=.15
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Younger HF Older LF Older
Satisfaction, p=.28
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Younger HF Older LF Older

11. 11
#HCII2015
@romanocogQ2: Do varying levels of cognitive
function impact performance?
b. Digit Symbol Coding Task
Younger HF Older LF Older
N 19 6 6
Scores 79 (48-
116)
(72) 64-91 (34) 24-38
p<.0001
Tukey HSD post hoc test:
Low-functioning Older < High-functioning Older,
p<.01
Low-functioning Older < Younger, p<.01
High-functioning Older = Younger
Efficiency, in seconds, p=.21
0
50
100
150
200
250
Younger HF Older LF Older
Satisfaction, p=.18
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Younger HF Older LF Older
Accuracy, p<.05
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Younger HF Older LF Older
p<.05

12. 12
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@romanocogQ2: Do varying levels of cognitive
function impact performance?
c. Verbal Ability
Younger HF Older LF Older
N 21 7 7
Scores 31 (22-38) (38) 35-40 (27) 22-29
p<.0001
Tukey HSD post hoc test:
Low-functioning Older < High-functioning Older,
p<.01
High-functioning Older < Younger, p<.01
Low-functioning Older = Younger
Accuracy, p<.05
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Younger HF Older LF Older
Efficiency, in seconds, p=.47
0
50
100
150
200
250
Younger HF Older LF Older
Satisfaction, p<.05
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Younger HF Older LF Older
p<.01

13. Summary
13
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@romanocog
Jen Romano-Bergstrom
Facebook | JenRB@fb.com
Accuracy, p=.06
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Younger Middle Older
p<.01
Accuracy, p<.05
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Younger HF Older LF Older
Verbal Ability
1. Suggests age-related decline
2. Suggests cognition mediates age-related differences
3. UX Testing must include people of all ages and cognitive abilities to ensure the
product meets all users’ needs.
Processing Speed
Digit Symbol Coding
Accuracy, p<.05
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Younger HF Older LF Older
p<.05