Research article summary (published 30 Oct 1997):

Independent paths in the development of infant learning and forgetting.

Full Abstract

We investigated the possibility that age differences in infants' long-term retention are artifacts of correlated differences in learning rates or learning opportunities (over-learning). Using path analytic procedures, these possibilities were examined in two experiments in which 15- and 18-month-olds (Experiment 1) and 12- and 15-month-olds (Experiment 2) learned five novel activities to a strict acquisition criterion. Three months later, infants' retention was tested using four test trials with no further study opportunities. Using a series of causal models to test the relationships between age, learning rate, learning opportunities, and forgetting rate, the results disconfirmed the artifact hypothesis. These analyses indicated that, at least for criterion-learning designs, developmental declines in forgetting rates between 12 and 18 months of age do exist independent of developmental differences in learning. Furthermore, age differences in forgetting rates are not confounded with age differences in "overlearning." These findings are discussed in terms of the growing body of evidence that attests to the continuity of memory development across childhood.

Author information

Author/s: Howe, M L (ML); Courage, M L (ML);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Canada. mhowe(-atsign-)morgan.ucs.mun.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of experimental child psychology (J Exp Child Psychol), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1997-Nov; vol 67 (issue 2) : pp 131-63

Dates: Created 1997/12/31; Completed 1997/12/31; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 9388803, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Age Factors Child Development Child Psychology Conditioning, Operant Female Humans

Infant Male Mental Recall Overlearning Psychomotor Performance Retention (Psychology)

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