Mere memory testing creates false memories in children

It has been reported that initial recall tests inoculate true memories against forgetting without creating false memories. This is not true of recognition tests. In 2 experiments with 5- and 8-year-olds, initial recognition tests elevated children's false-memory responses (false alarms to unpresented distracters) on delayed tests. In Experiment 1, false-memory creation exceeded true-memory inoculation in 5-year-olds, producing net losses in accuracy over time. In Experiment 2, false-memory creation exceeded true-memory inoculation at both age levels.