OLDER AND YOUNGER ADULTS STRATEGY CHOICES IN MULTIPLICATION - TESTINGPREDICTIONS OF ASCM USING THE CHOICE NO-CHOICE METHOD/

The choice/no-choice method provides a means of obtaining unbiased est imates of the performance characteristics of strategies. The three exp eriments in the study illustrate the method's usefulness for testing p redictions of alternative models of strategy choice. The experiments f ocused on 20- and 70-year-olds' choices among mental calculation, use of a calculator, and use of pencil and paper as strategies for solving multidigit multiplication problems. As predicted by the Adaptive Stra tegy Choice Model (ASCM), (a) differences in the speed and accuracy yi elded by the strategies were the strongest predictors of the frequency with which each strategy was chosen on a given problem; (b) features of problems exerted an additional independent influence; and (c) havin g a choice resulted in better performance than not having one. These r esults held true for both older and younger adults. Potential extensio ns of the choice/no-choice method and of ASCM are discussed.