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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
07:26
The Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) Task: A Simple Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate False Memories in the Laboratory
Published on: January 31, 2017
Do children "DRM" like adults? False memory production in children
Richard L Metzger1, Amye R Warren, Jill T Shelton
1Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, 615 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA. Richard-Metzger@utc.edu
Developmental Psychology
|January 16, 2008
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- The Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm is a standard method for studying false memories.
- Previous research indicates that false memory production varies across age groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate developmental changes in accurate and false memory.
- To examine how age influences recall and recognition in the DRM paradigm.
- To explore the role of semantic networks in memory development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm with age-adjusted word lists.
- Conducted experiments with 2nd graders, 8th graders, and college students.
- Incorporated child-generated word lists to assess developmental differences.
Main Results:
- Accurate and false memory recall and recognition increased with age.
- Semantic information was accessible across all age groups studied.
- 5th graders showed adult-like false memory in low-demand conditions but childlike patterns in high-demand conditions.
Conclusions:
- Developmental changes in automatic and effortful processing influence memory accuracy and false memory.
- Semantic network utilization evolves with age, impacting memory performance.
- Age-related differences in memory are modulated by cognitive processing demands.
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