Psychology
“Siri, Write This Down.” Or “Where Did I Leave That Post-It Note?” Young Versus Older Adults’ Perceptions of Memory Strategies
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Psychology
Start Date
11-4-2014 2:30 PM
End Date
11-4-2014 4:30 PM
Sponsor
Tara Lineweaver (Butler University)
Description
Hertzog et al. (2010) found that, although memory decline is inevitable with age, it can be minimized by utilizing certain memory strategies. However, the specific strategies young versus older adults use to maximize their memory vary across the lifespan (Horhota et al., 2012). Past studies have not yet addressed whether adults perceive different strategies as being more or less effective at different points in the life span or whether these memory strategy beliefs depend on participant age. In a computerized survey designed to address these questions, 85 young adults and 44 older adults rated the effectiveness of five sets of memory strategies (i.e., maintaining physical health, maintaining cognitive health, having a positive attitude, using internal memory strategies, and using external memory strategies) on ten "everyday" tasks (such as remembering names, faces, grocery lists) performed by adults aged 20, 50, and 80. Our results indicated that adults of all ages hold complex beliefs about how specific memory strategies affect memory across the life span. Specifically, both young adults and older adults generally expected memory strategies to increase in effectiveness across the life span. However, young adults and older adults differed in their specific expectations of how the five different strategy types change in effectiveness with age. These findings are important because they have implications for the specific strategies young adults and older adults may elect to use in their everyday lives for improving their memory.
“Siri, Write This Down.” Or “Where Did I Leave That Post-It Note?” Young Versus Older Adults’ Perceptions of Memory Strategies
Indianapolis, IN
Hertzog et al. (2010) found that, although memory decline is inevitable with age, it can be minimized by utilizing certain memory strategies. However, the specific strategies young versus older adults use to maximize their memory vary across the lifespan (Horhota et al., 2012). Past studies have not yet addressed whether adults perceive different strategies as being more or less effective at different points in the life span or whether these memory strategy beliefs depend on participant age. In a computerized survey designed to address these questions, 85 young adults and 44 older adults rated the effectiveness of five sets of memory strategies (i.e., maintaining physical health, maintaining cognitive health, having a positive attitude, using internal memory strategies, and using external memory strategies) on ten "everyday" tasks (such as remembering names, faces, grocery lists) performed by adults aged 20, 50, and 80. Our results indicated that adults of all ages hold complex beliefs about how specific memory strategies affect memory across the life span. Specifically, both young adults and older adults generally expected memory strategies to increase in effectiveness across the life span. However, young adults and older adults differed in their specific expectations of how the five different strategy types change in effectiveness with age. These findings are important because they have implications for the specific strategies young adults and older adults may elect to use in their everyday lives for improving their memory.