Remembering to do things: A theoretical framework and an illustrative experiment

Abstract

Experimental studies of the way we remember to do things are few in number and have failed to take account of the behavior that leads up to remembering or forgetting. This behavior can be regarded as comprising tests to check whether it is time to perform the action, and waits between the tests. Test-wait cycles are repeated until the test indicates that it is time for the action. In a laboratory simulation of a task of this kind, subjects watched a film and were required to respond at prearranged times. Their observations of a clock were recorded. As the target times approached, observations of the clock increased in frequency by an amount that was related to the accuracy of responding. But even when subjects forgot to respond they had often observed the clock shortly before the target time.