Do beliefs about font size affect retrospective metamemory judgments in addition to prospective judgments? A registered report

Beliefs about how memory works explain several effects on prospective metamemory judgments (e.g., the effect of font size on
judgments of learning; JOLs). Less is known about the effect of beliefs on retrospective judgments (i.e., confidence). Here, we tested whether font
size also affects confidence ratings and whether beliefs play a similar role in confidence than in JOLs. In two experiments, participants studied
words in small and large size, rated JOLs, and completed a font-size test in which they indicated the font size at study and a standard old/new
recognition test. The results confirmed that font size affected both JOLs and confidence ratings. The presentation of the counter-belief that
memory is better for words in small font size in Experiment 2 and the analyses of confidence for participants who did not believe that large fonts
improved memory suggested that the effect of font size on confidence was based on beliefs. This research shows that the debate on theory-based
and experience-based factors should not be limited to prospective metamemory judgments but also encompass retrospective judgments.
This work has been supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education through national funds and cofinanced by FEDER through COMPETE under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653).