Metamemory Predictors of Prospective and Retrospective Memory Performance

Abstract

The authors examined the relationship between memory self-efficacy and memory performance on 4 laboratory tasks designed to mimic everyday prospective and retrospective memory tasks. The results indicated that memory self-efficacy significantly influenced prospective, but not retrospective, memory performance. Further analyses showed that perceptions of greater memory capacity, stability, and anxiety were associated with better performance on time-based prospective memory tasks. For the event-based prospective memory task, the authors found a relationship with the locus of control component of memory self-efficacy: The more the participants perceived their memory to be under internal control, the better they performed on the event-based prospective task. These results highlight the importance of including prospective memory tasks in investigations of the role of beliefs in older adults' cognitive performance.