Harrison, Kimberley D.2024-08-142024-08-1419871987https://hdl.handle.net/1828/18054The effect of self-generation on activity memory and reality monitoring proficiency was investigated in a sample of 32 young (18-30 yrs.) and 32 elderly ( 60+ yrs.) adults. Half of the subjects in each age group performed and imagined activities that they had generated themselves. The other half of the subjects performed and imagined activities that were provided by the experimenter. Memory performance and reality monitoring were assessed using two free recall and judgement-of-origin tests. An analysis of variance using task ( performed/imagined) and recall test (immediate/delayed) as repeated measures led to the finding of a generation effect for memory for activities. There were also significant age and task effects. Young adults recalled more actions than elderly adults, and performed activities were remembered better than imagined activities. A significant age group by recall condition interaction also emerged, which suggested that younger adults recalled significantly more actions than elderly adults in both immediate and delayed recall, with the difference between groups being greater in the delayed recall condition. An analysis of variance using error type (imagined misclassified as performed/performed misclassified as imagined) and recall test as repeated measures led to the finding that generation decreased the accuracy of reality monitoring . Results were discussed in relation to their support for various theoretical perspectives of activity memory in adulthood and compared to recent investigations with similar designs. Implications for future steps in furthering an understanding of activity memory in adulthood were discussed.109 pagesAvailable to the World Wide WebThesis