Remember-know: a matter of confidence.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Memory Research
• Signal Detection Theory

Background:

• The remember-know (RK) paradigm is a key tool in memory research.
• Signal detection theory (SDT) offers an interpretation of RK data.
• Previous arguments have challenged the validity of the SDT interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate empirical arguments against the SDT interpretation of the RK paradigm.
• To assess the consistency of SDT with existing memory data.
• To determine if SDT remains a viable framework for understanding memory.

Main Methods:

• A critical review of five empirical arguments against SDT in the RK paradigm.
• Analysis of data from 72 studies and 400 experimental conditions.
• Evaluation of arguments concerning functional independence, sensitivity invariance, hit/false alarm rates, confidence judgments, and dissociations.

Main Results:

• All five empirical arguments against the SDT interpretation were found to be flawed.
• The SDT interpretation is consistent with data from both RK and remember-know-guess paradigms.
• Existing evidence does not rule out the SDT interpretation of the RK paradigm.

Conclusions:

• The SDT interpretation of the RK paradigm is robust and supported by current evidence.
• Critiques of SDT in memory research are based on flawed arguments.
• SDT provides a valuable framework for future theoretical advancements in memory research.