Thirst for knowledge: the effects of curiosity and interest on memory in younger and older adults

McGillivray, S., Murayama, K. and Castel, A. D. (2015) Thirst for knowledge: the effects of curiosity and interest on memory in younger and older adults. Psychology and Aging, 30 (4). pp. 835-841. ISSN 0882-7974 doi: 10.1037/a0039801

Abstract/Summary

Given age-related memory impairments, one’s level of curiosity or interest could enhance memory for certain information. In the current study, younger and older adults read trivia questions, rated how curious they were to learn each answer, provided confidence and interest ratings, and judgments of learning (JOL) after learning the answer. No age-related differences in memory were found. Analyses indicated that curiosity and interest contributed to the formation of JOLs. Additionally, interest had a unique increasing relationship with older, but not younger, adults’ memory performance after a week. The results suggest that subjective interest may serve to enhance older adults’ memory.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/43119
Identification Number/DOI	10.1037/a0039801
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Ageing Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Language and Cognition
Publisher	Americal Psychological Association
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