Three Estimates of the Word Span and their Stability over the Adult Years

Abstract

Three estimates of the immediate word span were compared in groups of men representing each decade between the ages of 20 and 69 years. No systematic change with age was found in free recall or in partial recall requiring the reproduction of the unrepeated word in lists of four to seven items. When the instruction was to report the entire list but leave the unrepeated word last, performance steadily deteriorated with age. Mean success in recall decreased on three criteria, and error by false terminal placement increased from each decade to the next. The results support the hypothesis that capacity to perform simultaneously two such operations as sub-vocal rehearsal of one item and vocal enumeration of the other items shrinks with the advancing years. This interpretation of the findings agrees with other observations about age-related changes in perceptual-motor skills and cognitive capacity, and indicates the manner in which an increased propensity to forgetfulness with the advancing years originates in immediate memory. It is also noted that in the general population the immediate word span is well below that determined in college students, even under the least exacting conditions of free recall, and that the additional requirement to search for, select and test a required item does not further restrict the word span below the age of 50.