Effects of goal-setting and feedback on memory performance and beliefs among older and younger adults.
This research examined the impact of goal-setting conditions on memory beliefs and performance among older and younger adults. After baseline recall and assessment of beliefs, participants were assigned to goal-setting, goals plus feedback, or control. Then, additional recall trials were followed by repeated memory beliefs assessments. For both younger and older adults, performance, motivation, and self-efficacy were affected positively by goal-setting. The impact of goals plus feedback was mixed and varied as a function of age and dependent measure. Success rates for reaching memory goals, which were low for the older adults, may have been a factor in these results. Adults' self-set recall goals were predicted initially by baseline performance and self-efficacy. On the final trial, goals were predicted by last trial performance, self-efficacy, and control beliefs.
West
R L
RL
Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-2250, USA. rwest@geron.ufl.edu
Welch
D C
DC
Thorn
R M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007721:Knowledge of Results, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D009042:Motivation; D020377:Self Efficacy