The Effect of Redundant Cues on Retrieval Time

Abstract

This experiment was concerned with determining the effect of redundant shape and color cues on retrieval time. Subjects saw a pair of stimuli presented sequentially on a screen and pressed one of two keys to indicate whether the second stimulus was the same as or different from the first. Stimuli for the color coding group differed only in terms of color (i.e., red, green, or yellow). Stimuli for the shape coding group differed only in terms of shape (i.e., circles, squares, or triangles). Stimuli for the redundant coding group were red, green, or yellow circles, squares, or triangles, with each shape having its own distinctive color. There was no clear-cut evidence that redundant coding facilitated retrieval of information from short-term memory. The redundant coding group (409 ms) was significantly faster than the color coding group (540 ms), but was not significantly faster than the shape coding group (456 ms). The difference between the shape and color coding groups was not significant. Same responses were significantly faster than different responses (449 versus 487 ms).