Abstract
On the basis of previously determined properties, it was hypothesized that, whereas the free recall of words is a strategic memory test, the free recall of action events in the form of tasks performed by the subject is nonstrategic. This hypothesis was tested in two experiments. In Experiment 1, some presented items were designated as being more important to remember than others. Although this encoding manipulation had a marked effect on word recall, its effect on task recall was minimal In Experiment 2, the encoding impact of events was measured by having subjects rate, during presentation, how likely they were to recall each event on a subsequent test. The ratings showed good predictive power for the recall of words, but not of action events. These results were accepted as further support for a strategic/nonstrategic distinction between word and task recall.
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This research was supported by Grant A7023 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The author is grateful to J. M. Lacroix for his comments on an earlier draft of this paper, and to A. M. Glenberg, D. G. Elmes, H. L. Roediger III, and W. B. Whitten for their helpful critiques.
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Cohen, R.L. The effect of encoding variables on the free recall of words and action events. Memory & Cognition 11, 575–582 (1983). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198282
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198282