Psychology of Computer Use: XVIII. Paired-Associate Acquisition and Recall: Microcomputer versus Pencil-And-Paper Copying

Abstract

The rate of acquisition and the immediate and delayed recall of words presented as a paired-associate task were examined as a function of method of copying the response words (microcomputer versus pencil and paper), typing proficiency, and sex. The subjects were 62 college students inexperienced in the use of microcomputers assigned to the following groups: 30 microcomputer subjects (6 typing-proficient men, 8 typing-proficient women, 8 nontyping-proficient men, and 8 nontyping-proficient women) and 32 subjects given pencil-and-paper tasks (8 typing-proficient men, 8 typing-proficient women, 8 nontyping-proficient men, and 8 nontyping-proficient women). Subjects were given five training and immediate recall trials and one delayed recall trial involving 20 paired-associate word dyads. Analysis indicated that the rate of acquisition was inferior for the microcomputer-working subjects as evidenced by significantly fewer subjects reaching a predetermined criterion for successful acquisition and that these subjects evidenced significantly inferior immediate and delayed recall. No differences as a function of typing proficiency or sex were observed. It was suggested that the results may have been due to interference from an interpolated activity for the microcomputer-working subjects or to a recall deficit inherent in microcomputer use.

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