Evaluation and Comparison of Episodic Memory in Elderly People: The Effect of Strategies Education on Memory Reinforcement

Abstract

The current study obtains a framework to compare the episodic memory among two groups of elderly people with and without training in strategies for enhanced memory. A total of 24 elderly people were selected in a convenience sampling method and then divided into two groups. One group was trained with memory reinforcement strategies and the other group was not. Verbal task and subject performed task were applied for assessment of episodic memory. The memory was evaluated by free recall test. The result of a T-test and ANOVA showed there was a significant difference between two groups in verbal and subject performed tasks. The group trained in memory reinforcement strategies showed higher performance than the untrained one. Applying memory reinforcement strategies in learning can reduce long term memory loss in elderly people. Memory loss in the elderly is due to their not using encoded learning material with the richness and accuracy of the younger ones.