Date of Award
Spring 2008
Project Type
Thesis
Program or Major
Psychology
Degree Name
Master of Arts
First Advisor
Michelle D Leichtman
Abstract
The experiments in this thesis were designed to investigate age and gender differences in the use of episodic memory. In experiment 1, children, ages 4 to 9 years, answered general knowledge questions and were asked how they knew the answer to these questions. Results indicated that there were some difference in the proportion of episodes girls reported. Girls' episodes also contained more details. Experiment 2 investigated source monitoring as a potential mechanism for children's use of an episodic recall style using a "drawer-task" with narratives as one of the source types. There were no gender differences, but there were age differences in children's ability to use narrative sources. Two pilot studies, conducted in a college and third grade classroom, confirmed the findings of experiments 1 and 2, indicating that there are age and gender differences in episodic memory, both in quantity and quality, that are apparent in the school years.
Recommended Citation
Bemis, Rhyannon H., ""I remember when I learned that": Gender differences in the use of episodic memory" (2008). Master's Theses and Capstones. 70.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/70