To read this content please select one of the options below:

Comparisons of cognitive ability and job attitudes of older and younger workers

Paula Brough (School of Psychology, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)
Greer Johnson (Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)
Suzie Drummond (School of Psychology, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)
Shannon Pennisi (School of Psychology, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)
Carolyn Timms (School of Psychology, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

ISSN: 2040-7149

Article publication date: 15 February 2011

4038

Abstract

Purpose

Advancing knowledge about effectively managing the ageing workforce and ensuring economic sustainability for a growing retired cohort is a recognised priority for organisational health researchers, employers and governments. The purpose of this paper is to test social perceptions that older workers' cognitive performance and job attitudes compare adversely to their younger colleagues.

Design/methodology/approach

The research assessed samples of older and younger workers in objective tests of cognitive abilities and subjective job attitudes. An opportunity sampling method was employed to recruit a heterogeneous group of participants in Australia (n=172).

Findings

No significant differences in cognitive ability between the groups were identified; older workers were as cognitively skilled for their job as their younger colleagues. No significant group difference for perceptions of social support, job commitment, job satisfaction or turnover intentions was identified.

Research limitations/implications

The cross‐sectional research design adopted by this research prevented a more detailed examination of the data in terms of causal relationships. While the cognitive testing provided objective rather than subjective data and, therefore, is not as susceptible to response biases such as common method variance, the small sample who undertook the cognitive testing is acknowledged as a research limitation.

Social implications

This research has implications for the reduction in unemployment of older workers and directly addresses the social issues of an ageing labour force.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that stereotypical assumptions concerning inadequate performance and low job commitment commonly attributed to older workers are not in fact indicative of all ageing employees.

Keywords

Citation

Brough, P., Johnson, G., Drummond, S., Pennisi, S. and Timms, C. (2011), "Comparisons of cognitive ability and job attitudes of older and younger workers", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 105-126. https://doi.org/10.1108/02610151111116508

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles