Law and Human Behavior · 2008 · 43 citations · 54 references
Social SciencesBehavioral SciencesPsychologyChild DevelopmentDevelopmental PsychologyMemoryAutobiographical MemoryEpisodic MemoryFalse MemoryMemory DevelopmentRecall MemoryRecognition MemoryAutobiographical Memory RetrievalChildhood False MemoriesFalse Event MemoryFalse RecallMisinformation ExposurePostevent InformationRecognition Memory TestsReminder Effects
In two experiments, we examined whether post-event information (PEI) about true and false events persisted in children's reports after approximately 1 year. In Experiment 1, 4- to 6-year-olds were given PEI and then were given memory tests 2 weeks and 15 months later. Although PEI appeared in free recall at the initial testing, it decreased substantially by the long-term test. In contrast, on recognition tasks the children showed facilitation and misinformation effects at initial and follow-up tests. Experiment 2 replicated lasting misinformation and facilitation effects in recognition memory among 4- to 9-year-olds who were tested after 1-week and 10-month delays. We conclude that true and false reminders about an experienced event continue to affect children's memory approximately 1 year later.
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