Memory failure is the topic of a Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) research study that is now recruiting participants.
Researchers at KPU’s Lifespan Cognition Lab are exploring how memory changes and develops across the child-to-adult lifespan.
The study is being led by KPU psychology instructors Dr. Daniel Bernstein and Dr. Kyle Matsuba, and is being managed by Bachelor of Arts in Psychology graduate Hanna Erceg.
“We know memory changes as we age and get older, but we're trying to figure out when these changes happen and why they occur,” says Erceg. “We’re planning to compare data from different age groups to help us identify when those changes will take place.”
Memory failure occurs when an individual fails to remember something or remembers something inaccurately. This can impact individuals in many ways, with eyewitness testimonies being one example of the dangerous outcomes.
“The leading reason for sending people to prison in the United States on a wrongful conviction is eyewitness testimony,” says Bernstein, Canada Research Chair in Lifespan Cognition. “If you have a very confident eyewitness that misidentifies the suspect, it can be dangerous because juries tend to think confidence is a very high meter for accuracy.”
The team is seeking individuals between the age groups of 10 to 15, 18 to 23, 40 to 45 and 65 to 70 to take part in the study. Participants will receive a $20 gift card for their time.
The study is funded through an Insight Development Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
For more information on how to participate, visit the Lifespan Cognition Lab website.