Metamemory for Prospective Memory Performance in Younger and Older Adults: Does the Reference Point Affect our Judgments?

Abstract

The present study investigated age differences in the ability to predict prospective memory (PM) performance. A sample of younger (N = 88) and older (N = 88) participants completed an event-based PM task embedded in an ongoing task. Metamemory was measured by asking participants to predict their performance before completing the PM task and complete some questionnaires on self-perceptions of everyday memory ability. We manipulated A) the reference point used to evaluate performance and B) the order of presentation of the instruments. One group of participants predicted their upcoming performance with a general confidence rating (performance condition) whereas a different group predicted their performance in comparison to other people of their age (peers condition). The metamemory questionnaires were completed either at the beginning of the experimental session or after the PM task, in a counterbalanced order. In terms of performance, we did not observe age differences in PM. In terms of metamemory, younger and older participants were similarly underconfident in the performance condition and overconfident in the peers condition. Moreover, older adults reported significantly better PM abilities than younger adults, and participants generally reported more memory failures when the metamemory questionnaires were administered after the PM task and in the performance condition. These findings show that both younger and older adults have limited metacognitive insights, and point to reactive effects of metamemory to metacognitive reference point and order of administration of the instruments.

Optimal cognitive offloading: Increased reminder usage but reduced proreminder bias in older adults.

“…In contrast with the evidence above suggesting that older adults may be more overconfident about their memory ability than younger adults, in a recent study, Scarampi and Kliegel (2021) found that both age groups were similarly underconfident when asked to predict their performance at a prospective memory task. Still, other studies have shown that confidence in one's memory ability tends to decline with age (Dobbs & Rule, 1987).…”

Optimal cognitive offloading: Increased reminder usage but reduced pro-reminder bias in older adults

“…In contrast with the evidence above suggesting that older adults may be more overconfident about their memory ability than younger adults, in a recent study, Scarampi and Kliegel (2021) found that both age groups were similarly underconfident when asked to predict their performance at a prospective memory task (Scarampi & Kliegel, 2021). Still, other studies have shown that confidence in one's memory ability tends to decline with age (Dobbs & Rule, 1987).…”