Short-Term Retention of Temporal Information

Abstract

The main purpose was to determine the short-term retention characteristics of temporal information when subjects experienced time under a conscious cognitive strategy for time estimation, i.e., subjects were instructed to refrain from employing time-aiding techniques. Visual time lengths of 4, 8, 16, and 32 sec. were estimated by 12 subjects under the method of reproduction. Three levels of retention interval were used, viz., immediate reproduction, 20 sec. of rest, and 20 sec. of interpolated activity, i.e., counting backwards by threes. The variable error was used to evaluate effects of forgetting. When subjects hold time lengths of 4, 8, 16, and 32 sec. in memory for a period of 20 sec. of rest or 20 sec. of interpolated activity, they become more variable than if they recall the item immediately. The variability between the 20 sec. of rest and the 20 sec. of interpolated activity retention intervals was similar. Two explanations for the lack of an interaction between time length and retention interval under the variable error were suggested. The constant error was used as an index of bias. Immediate reproduction of the retention interval had less mean constant error than 20 sec. of rest retention under the 32-sec. time length. That particular result was explained in perceptual terms.