The Microanalysis of Memory Span and Its Development in Childhood

Abstract

It is not clear from the literature why, as children develop, there are important increases in memory span, the number of just‐presented items that the participant can repeat in the correct serial order. To understand this, some recent results on capacity limits and processing rates were re‐analyzed. We first describe results using a conventional measure of performance in immediate memory tasks that is affected by the list length (proportion correct). Next we describe results using a less conventional measure (number correct) that is unaffected by list length under circumstances in which attention to the list during its presentation is curtailed. This measure can estimate an individual's limited‐capacity storage ability. Last, we examine measures of spoken response timing that do and do not change with list length. We show that unconventional measures that do not change with list length, but do change with development, are especially useful in assessing basic changes in information processing parameters, including increases in memory capacity and processing speed.