FREE RECALL IN THE INCIDENTAL LEARNING PARADIGM BY ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUT SEVERE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (85) ◽  
pp. 108-121
Author(s):  
Brian Jayawardhana
Author(s):  
Peter P. J. L. Verkoeijen ◽  
Remy M. J. P. Rikers ◽  
Henk G. Schmidt

Abstract. The spacing effect refers to the finding that memory for repeated items improves when the interrepetition interval increases. To explain the spacing effect in free-recall tasks, a two-factor model has been put forward that combines mechanisms of contextual variability and study-phase retrieval (e.g., Raaijmakers, 2003 ; Verkoeijen, Rikers, & Schmidt, 2004 ). An important, yet untested, implication of this model is that free recall of repetitions should follow an inverted u-shaped relationship with interrepetition spacing. To demonstrate the suggested relationship an experiment was conducted. Participants studied a word list, consisting of items repeated at different interrepetition intervals, either under incidental or under intentional learning instructions. Subsequently, participants received a free-recall test. The results revealed an inverted u-shaped relationship between free recall and interrepetition spacing in both the incidental-learning condition and the intentional-learning condition. Moreover, for intentionally learned repetitions, the maximum free-recall performance was located at a longer interrepetition interval than for incidentally learned repetitions. These findings are interpreted in terms of the two-factor model of spacing effects in free-recall tasks.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 770-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHEN JOY ◽  
DEBORAH FEIN ◽  
EDITH KAPLAN ◽  
MORRIS FREEDMAN

Although roles have been proposed for both graphomotor speed and learning in the execution of Digit Symbol, few data have been available concerning performance across the adult lifespan on the Symbol Copy, paired associates, or free recall measures derived from Digit Symbol and recommended in the WAIS–R–NI. We report findings on 177 healthy older adults (ages 50–90), providing normative data by age group, education level, and gender. As previously reported, Digit Symbol scores decline steeply with age (r = −.64). Symbol Copy speed declines almost as steeply (r = −.58). Incidental learning, however, declines only modestly (r = −.26 on both measures). Symbol Copy is a far stronger correlate of Digit Symbol (r = .72) than are paired associates or free recall (r = .26 and r = .28, respectively). The 2 incidental learning measures do, however, offer valuable supplementary information as part of a comprehensive individual assessment. When low Digit Symbol scores are produced by slowing on Symbol Copy, further evaluation of perceptual and motor speed and dexterity are indicated. When low incidental learning scores are obtained, further evaluation of memory is warranted. Qualitative analysis of errors (e.g., rotations) made on the incidental learning procedures may also be valuable. (JINS, 2000, 6, 770–780.)


2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph J. Ryan ◽  
David S. Kreiner ◽  
Heather A. Tree

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-187
Author(s):  
Timothy A. Bender ◽  
Carol F. Shoptaugh

1978 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 307-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul De Boeck ◽  
Willem Claeys

Field-dependent individuals are known to be superior to field-independent individuals at recognizing socially relevant material in an incidental learning paradigm. The present study tested the hypothesis that this superiority is moderated by the target-relatedness of distractors. The stimuli were trait names. To assess recognition memory a recognition list was used with distractors differing in degrees of relatedness to the targets. Results indicate that the relationship of field-dependence to false recognition of distractor traits is moderated by the target-relatedness of the latter.


1976 ◽  
Vol 38 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1321-1322
Author(s):  
James D. Evans

Theories of human memory which stress the importance of optional study processes predict that the spacing of repetitions will affect the free recall of twice-presented words only under intentional learning. The present investigation, involving 36 subjects, compared the “spacing effect” obtained with incidental learning to that obtained with intentional learning. That the level of free recall increased as a positive function of the spacing interval under both types of learning upheld hypotheses which attribute the spacing phenomenon to obligatory, or automatic, processes.


1978 ◽  
Vol 43 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1139-1148
Author(s):  
Claire B. Ernhart ◽  
Sybil B. Licht ◽  
Annette Kowalski ◽  
Lynne S. Carman

Free recall of 144 fifth grade children given a handwriting orienting task was improved by instruction to learn as opposed to incidental instruction and by slower presentation rate. Active taxonomic categorization surpassed passive writing of the same clustering list, which, in turn, surpassed writing of a nonclusterable list. Interactions were not significant although increased time tended to facilitate intentional more than incidental learning. In Exp. 2 using 72 children in Grades 3 and 6, the categorizing task was superior to blocked presentation, which, in turn, surpassed random presentation of the clusterable list. Clustering data did not parallel recall data, being influenced by list organization rather than by categorization. Clustering increased under slow presentation for incidental but not for intentional learning. The over-all results indicate that school-age children can improve learning under instruction and can benefit from changes in list and task, but that their own organization (clustering) is fortuitous to recall.


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