Developmental trends in children’s use of different monitoring processes to avoid false memories

Abstract

We examined the development of memory editing to avoid false recollection. Pre-K/Kindergarteners (M = 5;11), 1st graders (M = 6;11), 3rd graders (M = 8;2) and adults (M = 18;9) studied words and pictures and took recollection tests. In the non-exclusive condition, some items were studied in both formats, so that test performance required the selective recollection and monitoring of targeted word or picture information (diagnostic monitoring). In the exclusive condition, items were studied as words or pictures, so that non-target recollection allowed for the logical rejection of the item from the target format (disqualifying monitoring). We found significant developmental differences in recollection accuracy for words, but all participants used picture recollections to suppress false recollection on non-exclusive (diagnostic monitoring) and exclusive tests (disqualifying monitoring). Therefore, children’s propensity for false recollection errors may be related to recollecting and monitoring relatively nondistinctive target information, instead of monitoring processes in general.