Reliability and Specificity of Individual Differences In Reminiscence

Abstract

In investigating Eysenck's (1965) suggestion of the specificity of reminiscence, 50 high school boys were tested on 2 gross motorcoordination tasks-one involving tracking and the other balance. In the practice schedule, which was identical for both tasks, all Ss were given 20 50-sec. trials with a 10-sec. intertrial rest. A 5-min. interpolated rest was given after every fourth trial. The reliability of individual differences in reminiscence for both tasks was found to be extremely low. While Eysenck's hypothesis was not necessarily weakened, doubt was cast upon the specificity of reminiscence in the usual context of the word.