Is dream recall underestimated by retrospective measures and enhanced by keeping a logbook? A review.

Two methods are commonly used to measure dream recall at home: retrospective questionnaires (a single question asking people to estimate their recall) and daily logbooks. Retrospective measures tend to yield lower dream recall rates than logbooks. One explanation is that retrospective measures underestimate actual dream recall; another is that keeping a logbook enhances recall. If both effects occur, neither method reflects typical dream recall rates, and each may be confounded with variables linked to underestimation or enhancement. This review addresses the insufficient attention this issue has received.

Study at a glance

Abstract

There are two methods commonly used to measure dream recall in the home setting. The retrospective method involves asking participants to estimate their dream recall in response to a single question and the logbook method involves keeping a daily record of one's dream recall. Until recently, the implicit assumption has been that these measures are largely equivalent. However, this is challenged by the tendency for retrospective measures to yield significantly lower dream recall rates than logbooks. A common explanation for this is that retrospective measures underestimate dream recall. Another is that keeping a logbook enhances it. If retrospective measures underestimate dream recall and if logbooks enhance it they are both unlikely to reflect typical dream recall rates and may be confounded with variables associated with the underestimation and enhancement effects. To date, this issue has received insufficient attention. The present review addresses this gap in the literature.