Developmental sensitivity to temporal grouping effects in short-term memory.

Towse, John N. and Hitch, Graham J. and Skeates, Steven (1999) Developmental sensitivity to temporal grouping effects in short-term memory. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 23 (2). pp. 391-411. ISSN 0165-0254

Abstract

Four experiments investigate developmental changes in the effect of providing time-based cues to lists for immediate recall. Data both provide a context for adult research and have implications for children’s memory processes. Sets of letters (Experiments 1-3) or numbers (Experiment 4) were presented to children with either regular inter-item temporal intervals (ungrouped lists) or pauses to segment sets (grouped lists). Experiment 1 indicated a developmental shift between 4 and 8 years of age, with an increasing recall bene"t from temporal group structure for visually presented "xed-length lists. Experiment 2 confirmed the developmental shift with visual presentation using a span procedure, with sensitivity to temporal grouping becoming apparent by the age of 8 years. Experiments 3 and 4 revealed a similar developmental pattern with a span procedure using auditory stimuli. In summary, children capitalise on pauses in visual and auditory material at approximately the same age. There was no evidence that auditory presentation induces a fundamentally different grouping process or precocious strategy use, contrary to some previous accounts. Data are most consistent with the argument that grouping is a relatively late-developing, strategic process.