1. Effects of goal-setting and feedback on memory performance and beliefs among older and younger adults
- Author
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R L, West, D C, Welch, and R M, Thorn
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Aging ,Motivation ,Adolescent ,Memory ,Mental Recall ,Humans ,Female ,Goals ,Knowledge of Results, Psychological ,Self Efficacy ,Aged - Abstract
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.
- Published
- 2001