Different Thresholds for Recognition—Further Experiments on Interpolated Recall and Recognition

Abstract

Three experiments are described which have attempted to identify some of the difficulties in recognition after interpolated recall. In the first, complex picture material was used, and, though subjects were able to recognize the original after interpolated recall, they did in fact recognize fewer items. This posed the query, why should the recall of some items depress the recognition of other unrecalled items? The second experiment showed that in recognition the stronger (correct) memory has an inhibitory effect on a weaker (also correct) memory. The third experiment therefore examined the hypothesis that the juxtaposition of better and worse known items raises the threshold of recognition of the worse known, and confirmed that the threshold of recognition for an item varies according to its context. The theoretical significance of this finding is briefly indicated.