Encoding strategy changes and spacing effects in the free recall of unmixed lists
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Peter F. Delaney, Associate Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: Memory for repeated items often improves when repetitions are separated by other items—a phenomenon called the spacing effect. In two experiments, we explored the complex interaction between study strategies, serial position, and spacing effects. When people studied several unmixed lists, they initially used mainly rote rehearsal, but some people eventually adopted relational encoding strategies like creating a story from the items (Experiment 1). We observed overall spacing effects when participants used the story mnemonic, but not when they employed rote rehearsal strategies (Experiments 1 and 2). This occurred in part because the story mnemonic reduced or eliminated the usual recall advantage of immediately repeated items at the beginning of lists (Experiment 2).
Encoding strategy changes and spacing effects in the free recall of unmixed lists
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Created on 1/1/2005
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Journal of Memory and Language, 52, 120-130
- Language: English
- Date: 2005
- Keywords
- Spacing, Massed practice, Spaced practice, Strategy change, Long-term memory, Serial position effects