Stroop Performance and Difficulties of Older Adults Using Automatic Teller Machines

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between inhibition of older adults and difficulties using automatic teller machines. 22 older adults performed three transactions on an ATM simulator, and errors were recorded. Participants also performed the Stroop interference task to assess inhibition. Both interference effect in response latencies and rate of intrusion errors in the Stroop task were moderately correlated with number of errors on the task. Older adults with low Stroop performance made more errors in the categories of Forgetting an operation, Screen mix-up, and Overlooking an input error than those with high performance. These results suggest that low inhibition may be associated with difficulties in automatic teller machine use, and the importance of designing a user interface which lessens the likelihood of errors for older adults or others.

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