Semantic relations between encoding and retrieval in cued recall

• Published in: Memory & cognition Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 651 - 659
• Main Authors: LOW, L. A, RODER, B. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austin, TX Psychonomic Society 01.11.1983
• Subjects: Association; Biological and medical sciences; Communication disorders; Conditioning; Cues; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Humans; Learning. Memory; Male; Memory; Mental Recall; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Semantics; Human; Verbal learning; Acquisition process; Language; Coding; Semantics; Memory; Mnemonic retrieval; Cued recall
• ISSN: 0090-502X; 1532-5946
• DOI: 10.3758/BF03198290

Two experiments were conducted to test an encoding-specificity hypothesis. In experiment 1, Ss (N = 20 Ms, 20 Fs) were presented pairs of coordinates to study, followed by a cued-recall test. Semantically weak & strong coordinates (defined by degree of featural overlap) served as encoding & retrieval cues. The semantic strength of the cue was the most important factor in recall. In experiment 2 (N = 28), three N coordinates of varied semantic interrelatedness were recalled in the same manner as experiment 1. Maximum recall was achieved when a strong encoding condition was matched with a strong retrieval cue. Results suggest that semantic relationships are important to recall & that shared features contribute to successful recollection. 3 Tables, 2 Appendixes, 19 References. Modified HA