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Psychology

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L_Schmidt3

Dr. Laura I. Schmidt - Diplom-Psychologin

Network Aging Research
Bergheimer Straße 20
D-69115 Heidelberg

Phone: +49 (0)6221 54 8115 or 54 7297
schmidt@nar.uni-heidelberg.de

Fellows: Prof. Dr. Hans-Werner Wahl, Prof. Dr. Ernst Pöppel, Dr. Herbert Plischke

 

Performance on everyday technology tasks in old age - Examining the effects of cognitive impairment, interface complexity and technology experience

In the context of demographic change and technological progression in society, there is intensive discussion on the opportunities of technology to support the elderly. Particularly for older people with cognitive impairment, user-friendly technologies could facilitate various everyday activities and contribute to the preservation of their quality of life. On the other hand, their autonomy and social participation could be hampered by devices and systems with inappropriate design or complicated handling. Hence, the performance of older people on technology tasks and influencing factors are evaluated in this dissertation project.

By using three different devices (communication, health and entertainment technologies) factors for successful performance on tasks differing in complexity are identified. On one hand, the focus lies on required cognitive abilities like cognitive flexibility, visuo-spatial abilities, and working memory. Participants without cognitive losses are compared to those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). On the other hand the influence of additional factors on performance is examined: What is the impact of interface complexity (e. g. menus with hierarchically organized levels), technology experience or the educational degree of the participants? To what extent do psychological constructs (e. g. self-efficacy or obsolescence) influence performance on the tasks?

Publications

  • Schmidt, L. I. (2015). Technikhandhabung im höheren Alter aus psychologischer Perspektive: Eine quasiexperimentelle Studie zur Rolle von kognitiver Leistungsfähigkeit, Technikeinstellung und Technikerfahrung. Dissertation, Universität Heidelberg.
  • Schmidt, L. I. & Wahl, H.-W. (in press). Wie verändert Technik das Alter(n) und die Gerontologie? Angewandte Gerontologie, 1, 1-4.
  • Doh, M., Schmidt, L. I., Herbolsheimer, F., Jokisch, M., & Wahl, H.-W. (in press). Patterns of modern ICT use among “senior technology experts”: The role of demographic variables, subjective beliefs and attitudes. In E. Loos (Ed.), Human-Computer Interaction. Los Angeles: Springer.
  • Kessler, E.-M. & Schmidt, L. I. (in press). Rezension zum Instrument H.I.L.DE. - Heidelberger Instrument zur Erfassung der Lebensqualität Demenzkranker, Handbuch neuropsychologischer Testverfahren, Band II, Kapitel „Altern und Demenz“.
  • Schmidt, L.I., Claßen, K., & Wahl, H.-W. (in press). Setting Technology and Mild to Severe Cognitive Impairment in Old Age into Context: Psychological Perspectives. In S. Kwon (Ed.), Gerotechnology 2.0. New York: Springer Publishing.
  • Schmidt, L. I., Wahl, H.-W., & Plischke, H. (2014). Older Adults’ Performance in Technology-Based Tasks: Cognitive Ability and Beyond. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 40, 18-24. doi:10.3928/00989134-20140218-02.
  • Schmidt, L. I., Wahl, H.-W., & Plischke, H. (2013). Effects of Cognitive Impairment, Age, and Attitudes on Technology Performance – A Mixed Methods Approach. The Gerontologist, 53, 569. doi:10.1093/geront/gnt151
  • Schmidt, L. I., & Jekel, K. (2013). “Take a Look through My Glasses”: An Experimental Study on the Effects of Age Simulation Suits and their Ability to Enhance Understanding and Empathy. The Gerontologist, 53, 624. doi:10.1093/geront/gnt151
  • Schmidt, L. I., Sieverding, M., Scheiter, F., & Obergfell, J. (2013). Predicting and explaining students’ stress with the Demand–Control Model: does neuroticism also matter? Educational Psychology, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/01443410.2013.857010.
  • Schmidt, L. I., Wahl, H.-W., & Plischke, H. (2013). Der Einfluss mentaler Leistung auf die Interaktion mit Technik: Spielt leichte kognitive Beeinträchtigung eine Rolle? In VDE/AAL/BMBF (Hrsg.), Ambient Assisted Living 2013. Berlin: VDE-Verlag.
  • Sieverding, M., Schmidt, L. I., Obergfell, J. & Scheiter, F. (2013). Stress und Studienzufriedenheit bei Bachelor- und Diplomstudierenden im Vergleich: Eine Erklärung unter Anwendung des Demand-Control-Modells. Psychologische Rundschau, 64 (2), 94-100.
  • Schmidt, L. I. & Wahl, H. W. (2012). Technology performance in old age: A question of visuo-spatial abilities and working memory or self-efficacy and technology attitudes? The Gerontologist, 52, 337-338. doi: 10.1093/geront/gns201.
  • Claßen, K., Schmidt, L. I. & Wahl, H.-W. (2012). Technology and Aging: Potential for European Societies. In C. N. Phellas (Ed.), Aging in European Societies. (pp. 33-46). New York: Springer.
  • Schmidt, L. I., & Wahl, H.-W. (2012). Performance-related factors for devices differing in diffusion. Gerontechnology, 11, 108-109. doi:10.4017/gt.2012.11.02.376.00
  • Schmidt, L. I. & Wahl, H.-W. (2012). Technikhandhabung im Alter: Der Einfluss von Kognition, Psychologie und Technikerfahrung beim Umgang mit Alltagstechnologien. In VDE/ AAL / BMBF (Hrsg.), Ambient Assisted Living 2012. Berlin: VDE-Verlag.
  • Schmidt, L. I. & Obergfell, J. (2011). Zwangsjacke Bachelor?! Stressempfinden und Gesundheit Studierender. Saarbrücken: VDM.

 

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Vita

2003 - 2004 Studies of Mathematics at the University of Rostock
2004 - 2010

Studies of Psychology at the University of Heidelberg, minor subject Mathematics and Political Economy, semester abroad in Southampton: Master degree program with focus on Health Psychology
2006 - 2011

Research assistant at the Department of Psychological Ageing Research, Heidelberg University. Research project Senso-Age: Developmental impact of vision and hearing loss in old age, Importance of social-spatial and Psychological Resources, Subjective Well-being in very old age and cognitive impairment
since 8/2010

Member of the NAR „Graduate Program Dementia“, Heidelberg University
since 11/2011 Research assistant at the Department of Health Psychology and Gender Research,  Institute of Psychology, Heidelberg University
since 6/2014 Research assistant at the Project FUTA, Department of Psychological Ageing Research,  Institute of Psychology, Heidelberg University

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Latest Revision: 2016-01-13