An empirical analysis of lay conceptions of memory domains
Title | An empirical analysis of lay conceptions of memory domains |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2016 |
Authors | Vallet, F, Desrichard, O |
Journal | Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition |
Volume | 5 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 59-68 |
ISSN | 2211-3681 |
Keywords | domain-specificity, lay conceptions of memory domains |
Abstract | Although experts consider memory in terms of different domains (e.g., short-term memory, spatial memory), little is known about the way in which lay people conceive memory domains. Study 1 addressed this issue by asking 79 French lay people to group together 125 memory situations (previously generated by lay people) according to their similarity. Study 2 used a similar procedure with 99 American lay people and 40 different memory situations. Hierarchical cluster analyses revealed five main memory domains common to the two studies: learn a set of things and recall them later, episodic and detailed memory, autobiographical memory, memory for day-to-day living, and failure to remember. Study 1 revealed a further domain: memory for intellectual and exact knowledge. Identifying these shared lay conceptions of memory provides insights into how lay people communicate about memory and will enable the construction of memory self-evaluation measures that are more representative of all memory domains. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.jarmac.2015.11.002 |
Refereed Designation | Refereed |