MEMORY BELIEFS AND MEMORY TRAINING: THE EFFECTS OF AN EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

1999

RESUMO

Traditionally, memory training for older adults has emphasized the acquisition and practice of memory strategies. Scholars have recently started to examine the importance of memory beliefs to memory improvement. To date, it was unclear whether altering low self-evaluations and negative beliefs about memory could influence the effectiveness of memory training. In this study, participants receiving memory training including a change-of-beliefs component were compared to a group receiving strategy training only, and a control group. Memory beliefs, knowledge about memory, and performance (memory for stories and names) were assessed repeatedly including a one-month follow-up after the completion of the program. It was hypothesized that the group receiving the comprehensive training would demonstrate more positive beliefs about memory and a higher increase in memory performance relative to the other groups. Results revealed that participants in the comprehensive training had higher knowledge about memory, more positive memory beliefs, and modestly higher use of strategies after pretraining and mnemonic training sessions. Surprisingly, these changes in the expected direction did not translate into higher memory performance for that group. These results corroborated previous findings in the literature suggesting that improved memory beliefs do not automatically lead to higher training gains.

ASSUNTO(S)

gerontologia memory training memory beliefs older adults treino de memória meta-memória psicologia do desenvolvimento humano envelhecimento

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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