Recognition of student names past: a longitudinal study with N = 1.
Recognition of names of former students taught at different times by a middle-aged college professor was tested, to investigate recognition memory over a time span ranging from 6 months to 26.5 years. The relationship between the d', a measure of strength of memory, and the retention interval can be best described by a logarithmic function characterized by a rapid initial drop followed by a slow forgetting rate. The correct responses (hits and rejections) had higher confidence and shorter response time than did the incorrect responses (false alarms and misses). The results show that an ecologically realistic longitudinal study with N = 1 can provide a valuable means in the study of human memory with very long retention intervals, which have not yet been investigated in the laboratory.
Huang
I N
IN
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 53190, USA. huangi@uwwvax.uww.edu
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009275:Names; D011930:Reaction Time; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors