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Comparing single‐ and dual‐process models of memory development
Author(s) -
Hayes Brett K.,
Dunn John C.,
Joubert Amy,
Taylor Robert
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
developmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.801
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1467-7687
pISSN - 1363-755X
DOI - 10.1111/desc.12469
Subject(s) - psychology , recognition memory , variance (accounting) , encoding (memory) , engram , trace (psycholinguistics) , process (computing) , signal (programming language) , cognitive psychology , pattern recognition (psychology) , statistics , cognition , artificial intelligence , developmental psychology , computer science , neuroscience , mathematics , linguistics , philosophy , accounting , business , programming language , operating system
This experiment examined single‐process and dual‐process accounts of the development of visual recognition memory. The participants, 6–7‐year‐olds, 9–10‐year‐olds and adults, were presented with a list of pictures which they encoded under shallow or deep conditions. They then made recognition and confidence judgments about a list containing old and new items. We replicated the main trends reported by Ghetti and Angelini ([Ghetti, S., 2008]) in that recognition hit rates increased from 6 to 9 years of age, with larger age changes following deep than shallow encoding. Formal versions of the dual‐process high threshold signal detection model and several single‐process models (equal variance signal detection, unequal variance signal detection, mixture signal detection) were fit to the developmental data. The unequal variance and mixture signal detection models gave a better account of the data than either of the other models. A state‐trace analysis found evidence for only one underlying memory process across the age range tested. These results suggest that single‐process memory models based on memory strength are a viable alternative to dual‐process models for explaining memory development.