EFFECT OF LENGTH ON RECALL OF VERBAL SERIES,

Abstract

The ability of individuals to retrieve words after the presentation of word series of different lengths (10, 20, 40, 80 and 160) was investigated. It was found that as the length of the series is increased the absolute number of words retrieved increased significantly. On the other hand, the percent of words retrieved was approximately the same for all series other than the shortest series (10) in which the percent retrieval was higher. Also, the percent intrusions was approximately the same for all lengths with the exception of the short list which was significantly less. As the length of the series is increased from 20 to 160 the serial position curves tend to become less curvilinear, and the area of maximum retrieval is closer to the end of the list. The serial position curve for the 10 word group declines with successive positions, indicating that word retrieval was attempted in the presented order. Possible retrieval strategies are suggested based on an analysis of intrusions. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0461666

Entities

People

  • William H. Sumby

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Intrusion

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience