The effects of false feedback on state memory distrust towards commission and omission and recognition memory errors

Memory distrust, the subjective appraisal of one's memory functioning, comprises two aspects: distrust over omission errors (e.g. forgetting) and distrust over commission errors (e.g. falsely remembering). Although these aspects have been studied, how they relate to memory validation (e.g. forming autobiographical beliefs) and memory reporting remains unclear. In this study, we experimentally examined how metacognitive appraisals influence memory validation and errors in memory reporting. Participants (N = 622, M-age = 38.67, s.d.(age) = 12.23) completed a memory task where they received inaccurate feedback about a tendency to make either commission errors, omission errors or no feedback. They then performed a second recognition task. Compared to the control group, those who received feedback suggesting a tendency to make commission errors showed a shift towards a more conservative response criterion. In contrast, those who received feedback indicating a tendency to make omission errors shifted towards a more liberal criterion. However, manipulation checks did not confirm that our manipulations affected state memory distrust as expected, and we did not find sufficient evidence that the effect of feedback operated through changes in state memory distrust. Possible explanations and future directions are discussed.