Dr. Ledet finds that on average, the scores of his older adult participants on a standardized intelligence test are lower than those of his young adult participants. Although these results might suggest that intellectual functioning declines in later adulthood, which of the following alternative explanations must be taken into account?
A) The older adults may be less healthy physically than the younger participants.
B) The older adults may have less formal education on average than might their younger counterparts.
C) The standardized test may fail to tap into practical intelligence, an area which might be less susceptible to decline with age.
D) All these alternatives should be considered.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Each of the alternatives provided (A, B, and C) offers a plausible explanation that could account for the observed differences in test scores between older and younger adults, beyond the simple assumption of a decline in intellectual functioning with age. Therefore, all these alternatives should be considered to fully understand the factors influencing the observed results.

Dr Ledet Finds That on Average, the Scores of His