Self-perception of memory skills: Cross cultural and age differences Leonard L. LaPointe Lorraine A. Book Stacey M. Brenner Jessica L. Brown Vanessa E. Diaz Sarah A. Ganas Emily R. Marturana David K. McCoy Jessica G. Paulk Allison M. Plumb Karen L. Yuhas Department of Communication Disorders Florida State University NeuroLinguistic-NeuroCognitive Research Center Tallahassee, FL

Background 1. Metacognition – “knowledge and cognition about cognitive matters” Flavell (1971) Metamemory – “the knowledge, values, attitudes, thinking and analysis of human memory” Literature suggests: –Self-perception of memory skills varies across clinical populations who have cognitive-linguistic impairment –Anxiety about self-perceived memory skills

Background 2. This study arose from discussions of self- perception of memory skills in a graduate course on cognitive-linguistic interactions at Florida State University Questions raised: –Does self-perception of memory differ in those with mild cognitive impairment? –Does self-perception of memory vary across age? –Does self-perception of memory skills vary across professions, cultures, or degree of intoxication?

Purposes To devise and assemble methods for measuring self- perception of memory To gather a relatively large data set on self- perception of memory and attitudes about personal memory skills in participants with no history of memory difficulty To determine if differences exist in self-perceptions of memory relative to age and culture in our sample

The Measures Self-perception of memory and attitudes about personal memory skills were determined by: 1.A Global Rating of self-perceived memory skills Overall rating of your memory (Worst) (Best) 1.Memory Questions Example: “How often do you miss appointments?” Very Often Quite Often Occasionally Rarely Never 3. Semantic Differential (Quantification of attitudes from paired associates) Example: How would you rate your memory? Weak Strong

Instructions We are exploring what people think about their own memory. Please answer the following questions about your own memory or memory skills. 1.Overall Rating: we would like you to choose a number that characterizes your idea of your overall memory or memory skills. Please circle a number from 1 (worst) to 10 (best) 2. Memory Questions: Circle the appropriate answer for each memory question 3. Semantic Differential: The Semantic Differential is a method researchers have developed for exploring attitudes about concepts, words, or events. We are very interested in your ideas about your own memory. Please think of your own memory or your memory skills. How would you rate your own memory or memory skills on the following scale? Consider each pair of opposite words. Circle the number that you feel represents your opinion of your own memory or memory skills. Complete all items. Thank you.

Please circle the number that you think characterizes your personal overall memory skills Overall Rating of Your Memory (Worst) (Best) You try it! Pick a number!

Memory Questions Circle the appropriate number for each question 1. How often do you forget appointments? Very OftenQuite OftenOccasionally RarelyNever How often do you want to tell a joke but find you can’t remember it? Very OftenQuite OftenOccasionally RarelyNever How often do you forget people's names? Very OftenQuite OftenOccasionally RarelyNever When you go shopping, how often do you forget items you intended to buy? Very OftenQuite OftenOccasionally RarelyNever

Semantic Differential: All Items Not Valuable Valuable Weak1 through7Strong Fragile1 through 7 Resilient Small1 through 7Large Bad1 through 7 Good Confusing1 through 7Clear Difficult1 through 7Easy Dull1 through 7Sharp Slow1 through 7Fast Negative 1 through 7Positive

Methods: Participants 139 participants were surveyed for this study –116 from United States (Mean age = 41 years (SD 16.1) (81 males and 35 females) –23 from Hong Kong, SAR (Mean age = 33 years (SD 8.6) (8 males and 15 females)

Results: Descriptive Statistics 1. Overall Rating (10 point scale) Group (US and HK) Mean = 6.59 (1.48) US residents Mean = 6.95 (1.41) Hong Kong residents Mean = 6.22 (1.55)

Results: Descriptive Statistics 2. Memory Questions (5 point scale; 4 questions pooled) Group (US and HK) Mean = 3.27 (.60) US residents Mean = 3.29 (.56) Hong Kong Mean = 3.24 (.64)

Semantic Differential (7 Point Scale) Group (US and HK) Mean = 5.36 (.74) US residents Mean = 5.34 (.88) Hong Kong Mean = 5.41 (.60)

Results: Memory Measures 1. Overall (Global) Self-Rating of Memory 10-Point Scale 4-Point Scale 2. Memory Questions 3. Semantic Differential 7-Point Scale * * Statistically significant difference in Overall between US and Hong Kong. Other measures did not reach significance.

Results: Overall (Global) Rating of Self-Perceived Memory Skills (10 point scale) Statistically significant difference t test for unequal means (t(137)=2.09, p = *

Age Differences (Or lack of…) No statistically significant differences between younger and older groups in self-perception of memory skills on any of our 3 measures

Memory Questions: Differences in Age and Culture “How often do you want to tell a joke and can’t remember it?” –Older Group rated their skills significantly lower (t(137) = 2.11, p=.01) “How often do you forget appointments?” and “How often do you forget people’s names?” –US group reported significantly better skills than Hong Kong group (t(137)=1l95, p=.02) “..Remembering jokes?” –Hong Kong group reported significantly better memory skills than US group (t(137)=2.37, p=.00)

US Group Better at Remembering Appointments and Names Hong Kong Group better at Remembering Jokes “Hi, Fred. I’m here on time!” “A priest, a rabbi, and a monk went into a bar…”

Conclusions Some of us have quite low estimates of our own memory skills No differences in memory self-perceptions for age in this sample US residents rated their overall memory skills higher than Hong Kong residents Older group rated themselves lower at remembering jokes Hong Kong group rated themselves better at jokes US group rated themselves better at names and appointments Research needs to be extended to clinical populations (e.g., Parkinson disease, dementia, stroke, TBI

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