I did my degree in Psychology at the University of Nottingham, and my doctorate at the Age and Cognitive Performance Research Unit, University of Manchester on “Patterns of Change in Ageing Memory” (1988). I am a chartered psychologist, an Associate Fellow of the BPS and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Previous employments include:
- Research Fellow, Age & Cognitive Performance Research Centre, University of Manchester
- Assistant Director, Age & Cognitive Performance Research Centre, University of Manchester
- Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Leeds
Research Interests
Driver, pedestrian and other risk behaviour
Current research includes work on autobiographical memory in older age, investigating influences of inhibitory and updating functions of the Central Executive on retrieval.
Recent projects examined memory for action phrases (instructions) comparing memory for Subject performed phrases with verbally encoded phrases, manipulating familiarity of noun-verb relations (semantic integration), frequency and object presence variables to examine the system oriented and episodic integration accounts of the enactment effect.
Earlier work: includes an investigation into the effect of cognitive and hearing changes on memory for auditorily presented information using different rates of presentation adapted to take account of changes in working memory (in collaboration with the University of Western Australia).
A major part of my work in Manchester was working on components of the large longitudinal study into cognitive ageing, with particular emphasis on the interactive effects of depression/dysphoria, health, locus of control, gender and age on cognitive performance (memory, fluid and crytallised intelligence, executive function) over a substantial period.
A key theme running throughout my work on memory and cognition is the modelling of the contributing factors that have effects on various aspects of cognitive performance, for example, with increasing age or with illness.
Current research includes (i) an examination of differences in pedestrian road crossing skills, behaviour and risk taking across adult age ranges (including older adults), gender and experience (drivers vs non-drivers). (ii) An examination of differences in effects on driving styles of driver experience, across age and gender groups. (iii) Comparison of predictive factors in health belief models for different types of behaviour (exercise, diet, road safety) in older adults, using Theory of Planned Behaviour Models.
Recent work: Large scale research review documents on “older drivers”, “older drivers, illness and medications” and “older pedestrians” (for the Department for Transport), and on dementia and driving. The role of the severity of combined effects, and of ability to plan and compensate in safety related conditions are key topics.
Earlier work: Examinations of primary and secondary effects of sensory deficits in older road users; (ESRC and General Accident), Reasons why older people may give up driving (AA Foundation for Road Safety Research), Models of age-related change in programming and planning of movements e.g. (i) the effect of secondary tasks on motor programming in walking amongst healthy elderly and stroke patients (ii) accuracy of speed and distance judgments – of oneself in terms of walking speed and of vehicles.
Links between research areas include the relationship of cognitive aspects of ageing, such as limited attentional and processing capacity, changes in executive function and the role of compensation, with other age-related physiological impairments such as poor eyesight and hearing in their effect on cognitive performance and safety, and on ability to plan or change health related behaviour.
Work on older adults safety and risk taking behaviour leads on to examinations of how health and safety behaviour can be changed. I have been involved in two regionally based evaluations of Health Service and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund interventions with older adults:
Holland, C.A. & Devi, R. (2006) Healthy Passport: An evaluation of a health and social engagement intervention with older Sandwell residents. Agewell: Sandwell PCT and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund project. (Report to NHS body).
Holland C.A. & Devi, R. (2007) Healthy Passport plus: An evaluation of a follow-up health & social engagement intervention with older Sandwell residents. Agewell: Sandwell PCT and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund project (Report to NHS body).
Teaching
Final year undergraduate course: The Psychology of Ageing
MSc in Rehabilitative Studies
Publications (C.A. Holland, née Winthorpe)
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Holland, C.A., Everitt, P., Johnson, A. & Devi, R. (2008) The ‘Healthy Passport’ intervention with older people in an English urban environment: effects of incentives and peer-group organisers in promoting healthy living. Ageing & Society 28, (4), pp 525-549, doi:10.1017/S0144686X07006939
- Holland, C.A. (2007). Driving with dementia - to what extent is risk of accident really increased? PSIGE Newsletter (BPS): Psychology Specialists working with older people. 98 ISSN 1360-3671 (Invited review at NHS or DfT practitioners, in addition to academic researchers).
- Holland, C.A. & Hill, R. (2007) The effect of Age, Gender and Driver Status on Pedestrians' Intentions to Cross the Road in Risky Situations. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 39 (2) 224-237 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2006.07.003
- Dunbar, G., Holland, C.A. & Maylor, E.A. (2004) Older Pedestrians: A critical review, Road Safety Research Report, No. 37,� DfT: London. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/olderpedestriansacriticalrev4738
- Holland, C.A., Handley, S. & Feetham, C. (2003) Older drivers, Illness and Medications, Road Safety Research Report No. 39. Department for Transport: London. ISSN 1468-9138 http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme3/olderdriversillnessandmedica4771?version=1
- Holland, C.A. (2001) Older Drivers: A review. Road Safety Research Report No. 25, DfT: London. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme3/olderdriversaliteraturerevie4770
- Holland, C.A. and Fletcher, J, (2000). The effect of slowing speech rate at natural boundaries on older adults’ memories for auditorially presented stories. Australian Journal of Psychology, 52, 149-154.
- Holland, C.A., Rabbitt, P., McInnes, L. and Ghali, N. (1996) A Cross-sectional examination of effects of depression, age, gender and socio-economic group on cognitive performance: Do previously found relationships differ when a depression inventory specifically designed for use with older people is employed? Facts and Research in Gerontology, 1-14.
- Holland C.A., Conner M.T. (1996). Exceeding the speed limit: an evaluation of the effectiveness of a police intervention. Accid Anal Prev. Sep;28(5):587-97.
- Rabbitt, P., Carmichael, A., Jones, S. and Holland, C.A. (1996) When and why older drivers give up driving. AA Foundation for Road Safety research.
- Holland, C.A. and Conner, M.T. (1996) Short and long-term effects of a police initiative on speeding behaviour and attitudes. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 28. 587-597.
- Holland, C.A. (1995) Ageing Memory. In F. Glendenning and I.A. Stuart-Hamilton. Psychology: Changes in Old Age. Avebury Press.
- Holland, C.A. and Rabbitt, P.M.A, (1994). The problems of being an older driver: A comparison of the perceptions of an expert group (driving instructors) and of older drivers themselves. Applied Ergonomics, 25 (1) 17-27.
- Holland, C.A. (1993). Self-bias in older drivers’ judgments of accident likelihood. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 25 431-441.
- Holland, C.A. (1992). The wider importance of autobiographical memory research. In M.A. Conway, D. Rubin, H. Spinnler & W. Wagenaar (eds) Theoretical Perspectives on Autobiographical memory. The Netherlands: Kluwer.
- Holland, C.A. and Rabbitt, P.M.A, (1992). Effects of age-related reductions in processing resources on text recall. Journals of Gerontology, 47. P129-P137.
- Holland, C.A. and Rabbitt, P.M.A, (1992). People’s awareness of their age-related sensory and cognitive deficits and the implications for road safety. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 6. 217-231.
- Holland, C.A. and Rabbitt, P.M.A, (1991). The Course and causes of Cognitive Change with Advancing age. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 1. 81-86
- Holland, C.A. and Rabbitt, P.M.A, (1991). Ageing Memory: Use versus Impairment. British Journal of Psychology. 82, 29-38.
- Holland, C.A. and Rabbitt, P.M.A, (1990). Autobiographical and text recall in the elderly: An investigation of a processing resource deficit. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 42A (3) 441-470
- Winthorpe, C.A. and Rabbitt, P.M.A. (1988). Working memory capacity, I.Q., Age and the ability to recount autobiographical events. In M.M. Gruneberg, P.E. Morris and R.N. Sykes (eds) Practical Aspects of memory: Current research and Issues, Vol.2. Clinical and educational Implications. Chichester, Wiley.
- Winthorpe, C.A. and Rabbitt, P.M.A. (1988). What do Old people remember? The Galton paradigm reconsidered. In M.M. Gruneberg, P.E. Morris and R.N. Sykes (eds) Practical Aspects of memory: Current research and Issues, Vol.1. Memory in Everyday Life. Chichester, Wiley.
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