Memory self-evaluation: The effects of age and experience

Abstract

Abstract An examination of the evaluation-test relationship both before and after memory testing was carried out with older and younger adults using self-efficacy evaluations of tasks representing everyday and laboratory tasks and comparing these evaluations with performance on laboratory tests and simulated everyday tests. the results supported a framework for memory self-evaluation that considered the effects of age, memory self-efficacy beliefs, task experience (general familiarity with a task), and recent test experience. As compared to the pretest, both age groups showed reduced self-efficacy, in general, and stronger evaluation-test relationships after testing. At the same time, the younger adults showed stronger evaluation-test relationships than older adults, especially on the laboratory tests. Memory self-efficacy beliefs appear to be affected by prior task experience with similar memory activities and by actual test experience that enables individuals to reevaluate their capabilities in accordance with their performance on a particular test. In particular, the accuracy of older adults' efficacy judgments appears to depend on both types of experience.