Answer to Question 1
Self-efficacy is a belief that one can accomplish things. Memory self-efficacy is an important type of memory belief that is distinct from things such as general knowledge of memory. For example, one may know a great deal about how memory works but still believe that one's ability to perform in a specific situation is poor. Not surprisingly, older adults with low levels of self-efficacy do not perform as well on memory tasks, bringing to mind the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy. However, older adults with lower levels of memory self-efficacy compensate for poor memory performance by using people for assistance and compensatory strategies to aid in their performance.
Answer to Question 2
Working memory involves holding information in mind and simultaneously using that information, sometimes in conjunction with incoming information to solve a problem or make a decision. Working memory plays an active and critical role in encoding, storage, and retrieval. Compared with sensory memory, working memory has a relatively small capacity. Most research indicates a significant age-related decline in working memory. The loss of the ability to hold items in working memory may limit older adults' overall cognitive functioning.
International Performance in Reading, Math, and Science, Eight Grade
Wayne Higby, Lake Powell Memory—Seven Mile Canyon.
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Sample hypnograms of children, young adults, and older adults