title: Comparing single- and dual-process models of memory development.
abstract: 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 () 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Brett K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006803:Human Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012372:ROC Curve; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult