Delayed Recall of Paired Associates as a Function of Processing Level

Abstract

Summary In the present study, 59 Ss (33 males, 26 females) were tested on cued recall of related and unrelated paired associates following an incidental learning task. The learning task consisted of Ss' finding similarities and differences between paired items. Retention tests were administered immediately upon completion of the task and again after 5- and 21-day delay intervals. At both delay intervals an analysis of the recall data in terms of the probability of correctly recalling an item, given that it was correctly recalled initially, showed that finding differences and similarities between items facilitated recall of related and unrelated pairs, respectively. It is suggested that items processed at deeper semantic levels are more available for immediate recall and “decay” more slowly than less deeply processed items.