Feedback, Confidence, and False Recall in the DRMRS Procedure

• Published in: Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.) N.J.), 2015-06, Vol.34 (2), p.248-267
• Main Authors: Pirmoradi, Mona, McKelvie, Stuart
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Feedback; Feedback (Communication); Psychology; Recall (Memory); Sex crimes; Sexual abuse; Social Sciences
• ISSN: 1046-1310; 1936-4733
• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-014-9255-0

In the Deese-Roediger-McDermott-Read-Solso (DRMRS) procedure, participants recall word lists constructed around central concepts that are not on the lists. Seventy participants were given experimentally manipulated feedback (positive, negative or none) about their performance after three lists (Block 1), and were then tested on six lists (Blocks 2 and 3). Feedback had an effect on general confidence and on confidence associated with recall for each list, but not on confidence associated with the recall of individual words. However, feedback did not affect memory performance on Blocks 2 and 3, particularly false recall. In addition, higher natural confidence in Block 1 was not associated with subsequent memory performance, particularly false recall. These results cast doubt on the suggestion that false recall can be affected by feedback, and are consistent with reports of a weak relationship or no relationship between confidence and memory performance.