Published on November 14, 2012 at 6:29 AM
As part of the first phase of the study, the researchers will conduct phone surveys to examine the respondents' cognitive skills, such as literacy and numeracy, and noncognitive skills including perseverance, drive and ambition.
In collaboration with a team of researchers across disciplines, Muller and Black will analyze data on labor force participation and experiences, health status, family roles, plans and expectations for future work and retirement.
"As people begin to age, they do lose cognitive function, but we know almost nothing about when they decline or the role of noncognitive skills, their jobs and family relationships, and other factors that might keep their minds young," Muller says. "That opens up some questions about where we should put our public dollars. To some extent, we can answer what's important and what's not."
Source: University of Texas at Austin