Norwegian schoolchildren's false memories examined by the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm

Abstract

The aim of the present experiment was to investigate developmental trends associated with false memory formations when tested with a Norwegian version of the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) procedure. In addition it was investigated if emotional words versus neutral were equally recalled by the children. Children (n= 90) from first (6 years-old) to fourth grade (9-years old) were tested with a free-recall test after been presented with 10 word-list. Then a recognition test for the presented words was distributed. Results are discussed in relation to previous developmental studies using the DRM paradigm and the Fuzzy-trace theory. The experiment was modeled after the DRM - procedure and Ghetti, Quin, & Goodman s (2002) study of developmental trends associated with the DRM false memory effect. Results showed that there was significant age differences in correct recall, younger children evinced less correct recall than the older children. In the recall of critical lures the youngest children (1 grade) and the oldest children (4 grade) evinced less false memories than the children in second and third grade. There was a significant difference between fourth grade and third grade in the recall of critical lure. A strong tendency appeared which almost reached statistical significance, that false recognition of critical lure increased by age. However, in the false recognition of critical lure control there was a significant increase by age. Thus, the findings support previous findings that older not younger children evince more false memories. In the recall of emotional lists compared to neutral lists there were no significant differences in the sample.