MEMORY SELF-EVALUATION - THE EFFECTS OF AGE AND EXPERIENCE

An examination of the evaluation-test relationship both before and aft er memory testing was carried out with older and younger adults using self-efficacy evaluations of tasks representing everyday and laborator y tasks and comparing these evaluations with performance on laboratory tests and simulated everyday tests. The results supported a framework for memory self-evaluation that considered the effects of age, memory self-efficacy beliefs, task experience (general familiarity with a ta sk), and recent test experience. As compared to the pretest, both age groups showed reduced self-efficacy, in general, and stronger evaluati on-test relationships after testing. At the same time, the younger adu lts showed stronger evaluation-test relationships than older adults, e specially on the laboratory tests. Memory self-efficacy beliefs appear to be affected by prior task experience with similar memory activitie s and by actual test experience that enables individuals to reevaluate their capabilities in accordance with their performance on a particul ar test. In particular, the accuracy of older adults' efficacy judgmen ts appears to depend on both types of experience.