Examining the relationship between free recall and immediate serial recall: Similar patterns of rehearsal and similar effects of word length, presentation rate, and articulatory suppression

A number of recent studies have explored the role of long-term memory factors in memory span tasks. The effects of lexicality, frequency, imageability, and word class have been investigated. The work reported in this paper examined the effect of semantic organization on the recall of short lists of words. Specifically, the influence of semantic category on immediate serial recall and the interaction of this variable with articulatory suppression was investigated in three experiments. Experiment 1 compared immediate serial recall performance when lists comprising items from the same semantic category were used (homogeneous condition) with a situation where lists held items from different semantic categories. Experiment 2 examined the same conditions with and without articulatory suppression during item presentation, and Experiment 3 reproduced these conditions with suppression occurring throughout presentation and recall. Results of all three experiments showed a clear advantage for the homogeneous condition. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that the homogeneous category advantage did not depend on the articulatory loop. Furthermore, error analysis indicated that this effect was mainly attributable to better item information recall for the homogeneous condition. These results are interpreted as reflecting a long-term memory contribution to the recall stage of immediate serial recall tasks.

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The relationship among reported strategies, presentation rate, and verbal ability and their effects on free recall learning.

Journal of Experimental Psychology ◽

10.1037/h0030541 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 87 (3) ◽

pp. 423-428 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

David M. Stoff ◽

Morris N. Eagle

Keyword(s):

Free Recall ◽

Verbal Ability ◽

Presentation Rate ◽

Free Recall Learning ◽

The Relationship

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Visual Similarity Effects in Immediate Verbal Serial Recall

The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A ◽

10.1080/713755916 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 626-646 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Robert H. Logie ◽

Sergiola Del Sala ◽

Val Wynn ◽

Alan D. Baddeley

Keyword(s):

Serial Recall ◽

Articulatory Suppression ◽

Visual Similarity ◽

Verbal Information ◽

Immediate Serial Recall ◽

Lower Case ◽

Letter Case ◽

Similarity Effect ◽

Temporary Memory

The role of visual working memory in temporary serial retention of verbal information was examined in four experiments on immediate serial recall of words that varied in visual similarity and letters that varied in the visual consistency between upper and lower case. Experiments 1 and 2 involved words that were either visually similar (e.g. fly, cry, dry; hew, new, few) or were visually distinct (e.g. guy, sigh, lie; who, blue, ewe). Experiments 3 and 4 involved serial recall of both letter and case from sequences of letters chosen such that the upper- and lower-case versions were visually similar, for example Kk, Cc, Zz, Ww, or were visually dissimilar, for example Dd, Hh, Rr, Qq. Hence in the latter set, case information was encoded in terms of both the shape and the size of the letters. With both words and letters, the visually similar items resulted in poorer recall both with and without concurrent articulatory suppression. This visual similarity effect was robust and was replicated across the four experiments. The effect was not restricted to any particular serial position and was particularly salient in the recall of letter case. These data suggest the presence of a visual code for retention of visually presented verbal sequences in addition to a phonological code, and they are consistent with the use of a visual temporary memory, or visual “cache”, in verbal serial recall tasks.

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Word length and age influences on forward and backward immediate serial recall

Memory & Cognition ◽

10.3758/s13421-011-0127-7 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 40-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rosemary Baker ◽

Gerald Tehan ◽

Hannah Tehan

Keyword(s):

Serial Recall ◽

Word Length ◽

Immediate Serial Recall

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