Metacognitive expectancy effects in source monitoring: Beliefs, in-the-moment experiences, or both?

Abstract

Abstract Judgments of Learning (JOLs) may result from a priori beliefs and in-the-moment experiences (cue-utilization approach, Koriat, 1997). The authors investigated the interplay and relative importance of beliefs and experiences, and their impact on JOLs and Judgments of Source (JOS). In a source-monitoring task with expected and unexpected source–item pairs (e.g., kitchen–oven vs. bathroom–refrigerator), metamemory judgments were higher for expected than unexpected pairs (expectancy effect). In two experiments, beliefs and experiences independently contributed to the expectancy effects on JOLs and JOSs. A priori beliefs regarding item and source memory for expected and unexpected source–item pairs were heterogeneous and partially moderated the expectancy effects on JOLs and JOSs. In Experiment 2, experiences captured via study time mediated the expectancy effect on JOLs only. Beliefs and experiences were weighted differently in JOLs versus JOSs. Results highlight the importance of investigating different metamemory processes and their contributions to different judgments.