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Age differences in reported recollective experience are due to encoding effects, not response bias
T J Perfect1, R B Williams, C Anderton-Brown
1Department of Psychology, University of Bristol, UK.
Memory (Hove, England)
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Older adults experience less recollection due to encoding, not cautiousness. Specific encoding instructions improved recollection in older individuals, suggesting encoding strategies are key.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience of Aging
Background:
- Reduced recollection is often reported in older adults.
- This phenomenon is sometimes attributed to a more cautious response criterion in older individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if reduced recollection in old age stems from a more cautious response bias.
- To determine the role of encoding processes in age-related differences in recollective experience.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted using recognition memory tasks with young and older adult participants.
- Participants distinguished between recollected and known items and provided confidence ratings.
- Specific encoding instructions were manipulated in Experiment 2.
Main Results:
- Older adults showed less recollection and more 'know' responses than younger adults, but equivalent confidence levels.
- Specific encoding instructions eliminated age-related differences in recollective experience.
- Replicating baseline conditions confirmed the initial findings.
Conclusions:
- The reduced recollection in older adults is not explained by a more cautious response criterion.
- Encoding strategies employed during learning significantly influence the amount of recollection experienced by older individuals.
- Memory performance in aging is highly dependent on encoding effectiveness.