Previous research has attempted to reduce the false memory effect in the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm by giving participants a forewarning. Forewarning included an explanation of the nature of the experiment by pointing out what the false memory effect is. Furthermore, participants were given an example of a DRM list before moving on with the study.
In general, these data showed that forewarning reduces the false memory effect by a small amount. In addition, earlier research has shown that false memory rates in 11 to 12-year olds are lower than in adults. However, the effect of forewarning on children in the DRM paradigm is unknown. The current research is interested in the influence of forewarning on children’s and adult’s false memories. Therefore, the study compared older children’s (11/12-year-olds) and adults (18-25-year-olds) false memories in forewarning versus no forewarning condition.
