A Developmental Study of Short-Term Memory Characteristics for Kinesthetic Movement Information

• Main Author: Ashby, Alan A
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.1982
• Subjects: Age Differences; Children; Cues; Elementary Education; Kinesthetic Perception; Object Manipulation; Perception Tests; Psychomotor Skills; Recall (Psychology); Retention (Psychology); Short Term Memory

Age-related characteristics of children's short-term retention of kinesthetic movement information were examined in this study. Three age levels (6-, 8-, and 10-year old children) were tested for recall of preselected location movements on a linear slide apparatus. Immediate and delayed recall were used in 16 trials. The results indicate that 6-year old children are less capable of efficient encoding of kinesthetic cues than are 8- and 10-year old children. In the delayed recall tests, 6- and 8-year old children showed a significant increase in response error and variability, while 10-year olds exhibited no change in recall performance. This indicates that 10-year old children are capable of spontaneous undirected memory rehearsal of kinesthetic cues and that younger children may be deficient in central processing or rehearsal strategies for recall of kinesthetic position cues. (FG)