Aging effect on the Recognition Memory Test (TEM-R)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to search evidences of desenvolvimental validity for the Recognition Memory Test – TEM-R. 464 college students of a particular institution of the state of Sergipe, both sexes, between 17 and 53 years old (M=23.53, SP=6.49) had participated of the research. The instrument had been applied collectively in classroom, previously scheduled by the teacher, with maximum duration of 10 minutes. In the results it was possible to observe negative and significant correlation between the scores of the TEM-R and the age (r=-0,20, p<0.001). Moreover, there were formed three age-groups with significantly different performances on the test, namely lowest through 23 years old, from 24 to 35 and 36 through higher. Based on this, it is argued the acquirement of an evidence of validity for the TEM-R in function of the age, because the increase in the age corresponded to a reduction in the capacity of memory recognition.