Occupational Memory Practice and Memory Beliefs with Age

Abstract

This study examined effects of intensive memory use during one's profession on metamemory beliefs. Fifty-one actors and 60 controls aged from 20 to 73 years were compared with the Metamemory Inventory in Adulthood. Both intensive job-related memory practice and younger age were associated with stronger memory self-efficacy beliefs. Irrespective of age, actors reported a higher stability of their memory with time and a higher controllability. No significant effect was found on metamemory knowledge. These findings show the relevance of the dissociation between metamemory knowledge and metamemory beliefs. Both memory practicing during occupation and age appear to influence only metamemory beliefs.

A part of these results were presented at the EARLI SIG meeting on Metacognition in Amsterdam, June 30–July 3rd, 2004. This work was supported by a Cognitique grant (N°COG 53B) “Impairments and Recovery of Cognitive Functions” from the French Ministry of Research.

The authors thank Valérie Spanier and Pascale Robert for technical assistance, and we thank Yvonne Delevoye-Turrell for her help with the English. We also thank the INSERM and CNRS institutions.

Notes

Note. Ca: Capacity; Ch: Change; L: Locus; IS: Internal Strategy; ES: External Strategy; T: Task, A: Anxiety; M: Achievement-motivation.

*Significant at p < .05; **Significant at p < .01.