The Effects of Two Study Methods on Memory
Abstract
Although organizational theory and the depth of processing framework have had considerable influence on memory research, there has been little effort directed toward integrating the ideas of these two approaches. This paper focuses on this issue in an investigation of how relational (organizational approach) and item-specific (depth of processing approach) semantic processing affect recall and recognition memory. The major finding in three experiments was that optimal recall performance is associated with relational semantic processing whereas optimal recognition performance is associated with item- specific semantic processing. Additional findings were that recall advantages following relational processing hold only for an immediate test of memory; that recognition advantages following item-specific processing are associated with slow retrieval-based recognition responses and not with fast, familiarity-based responses; and that semantic confusion errors in recognition are reduced by item-specific semantic processing. Overall, these results suggest that performance on tests involving the reconstruction of study list materials (e.g., recall) can benefit from organization of these materials during study. Performance on tests do not require extensive constructive processes do not benefit from organizational processing during study, but may be enhanced by extensive semantic processing for individual study list items.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA186997
Entities
People
- Sharon A. Mutter
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences