A developmental evaluation of frequency information in lists, scripts, and stories

In three experiments, the age-invariance hypothesis of frequency memory of Hasher and Zacks was tested. Children and adults listened to atypical actions presented in lists, or embedded in stories that described activities that are scripted, or in stories that described unfamiliar activities. Results from the list-conditions supported the age-invariance hypothesis. Age differences were found in the story conditions; however, they appeared at high, not at low, presented frequencies. The findings are discussed in terms of a developmental change in ability to retrieve the information needed to accurately judge frequency. The results are also discussed in relation to the Script-Pointer—Plus-Tag theory of script memory