Transformational Processes and Remembering
Abstract
Two types of problems were investigated: (1) The role of encoding and decoding rule learning and rule interference in what is, ostensibly, a nonsense--anagram list learning experiment; (2) the nature and role of organizational processes in multitrial free recall. The materials used in these experiments were codable trigrams (e.g. RJA; JAR) and categorizable words (e.g. flute, trumpet; week, day, etc.). The results of seven experiments on coding produced the following conclusions: (1) Subjects do learn and use both encoding and decoding rules. (2) Intralist encoding or decoding rule interference is a significant determinant of performance. (3) Sufficient structure can be built into these anagram materials to completely offset what have been assumed to be the detrimental effects of coding. The results of the experiments in free recall document the occurrence of intercategory organization (CO) as well as the more familiar intracategory organization. Using techniques from graph theory it was possible to show that the degree of CO observed is greater than chance, and that CO is highly correlated with category recall. One theoretical conclusion of special interest was that hierarchical models of retrieval are inadequate as an explanation of these data.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0666686
Entities
People
- John A. Robinson
Organizations
- University of Louisville