Information,Similarity and Vocalization in Serial Learning of Digits

Abstract

32 Ss were given a serial learning task involving either quinary or decimal numbers. The reading of items was silent for one half and aloud for the other half of the Ss in a 2 × 2 factorial design. As evidenced by trials-to-criterion, quinary numbers were significantly more difficult to learn. Vocalization resulted in slower learning, but the difference was not significant. There was no interaction between the two factors. Additional analysis revealed a strong difference in the serial position curve between the two vocalization conditions, the aloud condition resulting in a stronger recency and weaker primacy effect. In learning numerically coded information, the decimal code was interpreted as superior to the quinary code because of higher information per item and lower intralist similarity.