Memory knowledge and memory monitoring in adulthood

Abstract

Age differences in 2 specific processing dimensions of metamemory, namely memory knowledge and memory monitoring, were examined. Young and old Ss recalled lists of words paired with letter, rhyme, and meaning cues over 2 trials. On both trials, Ss made predictions of recall likelihood on presentation of each word-cue pair. No age differences in initial predictions (i.e., prior memory knowledge) were apparent, whereas age-based performance differences were observed. On Trial 2, both young and old Ss significantly revised their predictions; however, old adults monitored only global discrepancies between previous expectation and performance. Young adults raised and lowered expectations across cue types in accordance with their previous performance. Age differences in processing speed accounted for some but not all of the memory-monitoring differences.