AGE, IQ AND AWARENESS, AND RECALL OF ERRORS. Paper presented at: Errors in the Operation of Transport Systems : proceedings of a CEC Workshop held at the Medical Research Council's Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, UK, May 26-28, 1989.

Younger people report more lapses than the elderly on the Broadbent Cognitive Failure Questionnaire, the Harris and Sunderland Memory Failure Questionnaire, and a 'Lost and Found' questionnaire. Lapses are not predicted by IQ or vocabulary test scores (AH 4 parts 1 and 2, and Mill Hill). These paradoxical findings reveal some logical and methodological difficulties in the interpretations of subjective self-ratings. Age and IQ differences in the memorability of errors were illustrated using choice reaction time (CRT) tasks. All age groups were equally efficient at 'automatic' error detection and correction, but older individuals more often omitted controller error-signalling responses. Errors followed by controlled responses were better remembered. It is argues that conscious self-monitoring and the ability to remember errors improves with IQ and declines with age. (A) For the covering abstract of this conference see IRRD 834497.