Free recall in children: Long-term store vs short-term store

Abstract

A study was conducted on the effect of age on long-term store (LTS) and short-term store (STS) in free recall. Nineteen 5-year-old children and 25 6-year-old children were tested. Recall of words from the beginning and middle of the lists, the output from LTS, was significantly better for the older children. Recall of words from the end of the list, an index of output from STS, was similar for both groups. Age related changes in recall result, therefore, from changes in the efficiency of registering or retrieving information from LTS. STS is unaffected by age.