We are interested in evaluating interactive retrieval systems from the user's perspective. In this paper, we introduce several user studies evaluating the cognitive change in users' knowledge by using concept maps. We also propose a platform for user studies, including analysis tools, task descriptions, evaluation tools, and data sets.

Debate continues about whether personality, both normal and disordered, can change significantly or is mainly stable across the life span. One issue that receives little attention is the degree to which personality stability coefficients may be influenced by attenuation due to measurement error. The current meta-analysis examines the data from recent research on personality stability, reporting...

This study examined long-term personality trait development in midlife and explored the impact of psychological turning points on personality change. Self-defined psychological turning points reflect major changes in the ways people think or feel about an important part of their life, such as work, family, and beliefs about themselves and about the world. This study used longitudinal data from ...

What is successful ageing? Current opinion is that “cognitive vitality is essential to quality of life . . . in old age.” This depends substantially on people’s cognitive ability from early life, and on how much they decline from their cognitive peak in young adulthood. Early cognitive ability also affects physical health and even survival to old age. But surely happiness and satisfaction with ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We sought to identify the type and frequency of questions asked about stroke by patients, relatives, and caregivers. METHODS All stroke-related inquiries made to Stroke Association Advice Centers in the United Kingdom during a 4-month period were recorded. RESULTS During the study period, 1,397 people asked 1,908 questions. Nearly one quarter needed more information a...

OBJECTIVES Although personality is relatively stable over time, there are individual differences in the patterns and magnitude of change. There is some evidence that personality change in adulthood is related to physical health and longevity. The present study expanded this work to consider whether personality stability or change would be associated with better cognitive functioning, especially...

The modulation of control processes by stimulus salience, as well as associated neural activation, changes over development. We investigated age-related differences in the influence of facial emotion on brain activation when an action had to be withheld, focusing on a developmental period characterized by rapid social-emotional and cognitive change. Groups of kindergarten and young school-aged ...

The authors used 6-year longitudinal data from the Victoria Longitudinal Study (VLS) to investigate individual differences in amount of episodic memory change. Latent change models revealed reliable individual differences in cognitive change. Changes in episodic memory were significantly correlated with changes in other cognitive variables, including speed and working memory. A structural equat...

The news that the brain continues to develop through much of adolescence risks becoming an explanation for anything and everything about teenagers and suggests the need for closer analysis. Central to such analysis is clarifying what develops at a psychological level during these years. An examination of contemporary research data on adolescent cognitive development identifies increased executi...

BACKGROUND Identifying modifiable lifestyle correlates of cognitive decline and risk of dementia is complex, particularly as few population-based longitudinal studies jointly model these interlinked processes. Recent methodological developments allow us to examine statistically defined sub-populations with separate cognitive trajectories and dementia risks. METHODS Engagement in social, physi...