ABSTRACT
Research and theory in memory have undergone two radical changes within the last two decades that have changed not only the manner in which memory is investigated but the way in which psychologists have performed their research in general. These changes have given investigators the freedom to escape from the rigid confines of stimulus-response (S-R) behavioristic models of research to the more creative, less stereotyped techniques of the cognitive psychologists. Gradually, the emphasis of memory research shifted from studying the characteristics of memory stores to studying the nature of the individual's role during information processing. Rather than investigating stages of memory, researchers now ask questions concerning how an individual analyzes and processes new information on the basis of the characteristics of the material, the length of the retention period, and the nature of the task. Knowledge gained in these areas might be beneficial in future planning of memory-retaining procedures for the elderly.
