Age-related changes in the misinformation effect

Fn these experiments, we examined the relation between age-related changes in retention and age-related changes in the misinformation effect. Children (5- and 6- and 11- and 12-year-olds) and adults viewed a video, and their memory was assessed immediately, I day, or 6 weeks later (Experiment 1). Th ere were large age-related differences in retention when participants were interviewed immediately and after 1 day, but after the 6-week delay, age-re lated differences in retention were minimal. In Experiment 2, 11- and 12-ye ar-olds and adults were exposed to neutral, leading, and misleading posteve nt information 1 day or 6 weeks after they viewed the video. Exposure to mi sleading information increased the number of commission errors, particularl y when participants were asked about peripheral aspects of the video. At bo th retention intervals, children were more likely than adults to incorporat e the misleading postevent information into their subsequent verbal account s. These findings indicate that age-related changes in the misinformation e ffect are not predicted by age-related changes in retention. (C) 2001 Acade mic Press.