Using overt rehearsals to explain word frequency effects in free recall.
Three experiments examined the word frequency effect in free recall using the overt rehearsal methodology. Experiment 1 showed that lists of exclusively high-frequency (HF) words were better recalled, were rehearsed more, and were rehearsed to more recent serial positions than low-frequency (LF) words. A small HF advantage remained even when these 2 variables were equated. Experiment 2 showed that all these effects were much reduced with mixed lists containing both HF and LF words. Experiment 3 compared pure and mixed lists in a within-subject design and confirmed the findings of Experiments 1 and 2. It is argued that number of rehearsals, recency of rehearsals, and strength of interitem associations cause the word frequency effect in free recall.
Ward
Geoff
G
Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, England. gdward@essex.ac.uk
Woodward
Graham
G
Stevens
Anna
A
Stinson
Clare
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011578:Psycholinguistics; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012660:Semantics; D012691:Serial Learning; D012718:Set, Psychology; D014706:Verbal Learning