Memory selectivity in younger and older adults: The role of conative factors in value-directed remembering

Memory selectivity refers to our ability to flexibly prioritize and remember important information over less important information. In three studies, we investigated the roles of various conative factors (i.e., task-specific motivation, memory self-efficacy, and self-determined learning goals) as mechanisms that might support intact, if not superior, memory selectivity in older age. Specifically, all three studies assessed efficacy beliefs (in younger and older adults) before participants completed a standard value-directed remembering task. Measures of task-specific motivation (Studies 1-3) and self-determined learning goals (Studies 2-3) were also included. Results suggested that older adults were generally more selective and more motivated to perform well on the value-directed remembering task compared to younger adults, even though they were also less confident in their memory abilities and tried to remember fewer words on each list. Critically, though, heightened task-specific motivation was associated with a tendency to recall a greater proportion of the to-be-remembered material but was not consistently associated with selectivity. A weak negative correlation between motivation and selectivity was only found in Study 3. However, inefficacious beliefs and lower self-determined learning goals were reliably associated with superior memory selectivity. Path analyses further revealed that memory self-efficacy and self-determined learning goals accounted for older adults' tendency to selectively remember important information. Collectively, these results are consistent with the idea that awareness of current memory limitations encourages older adults to focus on less material, which helps older adults more efficiently allocate attention to important information. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).