title: The Influence of Embellishment and Prequestions on Free Recall of a Text.
abstract: The influence on free recall of the addition of embellishing details to the constituent scenes of a text was studied as a function of the salience of the embellished scenes within the overall content. The relative salience of the scenes that occupied odd- or even-numbered serial positions was varied by introduction of prequestions. In Experiment 1 (n = 52), the effectiveness of the prequestions was tested, in Experiment 2 (n = 48), the presentation of prequestions was combined orthogonally with embellishment of the scenes. The results indicate that the effects of prequestions and embellishment appear to be additive. Embellishment of half of the scenes appears to be most effective when the salience of the relevant scenes has been enhanced by presentation of appropriate prequestions.
authors.affiliation: a Psychological Laboratory University of Utrecht , Holland.
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Dam
authors.affiliation: a Psychological Laboratory University of Utrecht , Holland.
authors.forename: MichèLe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brinkerink-Carlier
authors.affiliation: a Psychological Laboratory University of Utrecht , Holland.
authors.forename: Ineke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kok