City Research Online

Abstract

Published age effects in naturalistic memory are inconsistent. This study examined whether a set of typical naturalistic memory measures produced equivalent results in a single participant sample. Four naturalistic memory tests (everyday memory, autobiographical memory from the past year, autobiographical memory from age 11-17, word-cued autobiographical memory) and one laboratory test (word-list recall) were administered to 20 young and 20 older adults. There was significant variance in the tests’ sensitivity to age: word-cued autobiographical memory produced the largest deficit in older adults, similar in magnitude to word-list recall. In contrast, older adults performed comparatively well on the other measures, which were more ecologically valid. Retention interval, executive function, and event characteristics influenced performance, but none of these factors could account for the pattern of age effects. Further research is needed to understand the face validity of these naturalistic memory tasks, and future investigations should be mindful of their ecological validity.

Publication Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Publisher Keywords:	Autobiographical memory; everyday memory; episodic memory; ageing
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology

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