Rehearsal and List Structure

Abstract

During the input phases of a multitrial free recall experiment, Ss were either free to rehearse or required to write the to-be-remembered words as they were presented. Under these input conditions, Ss learned 24-word lists which varied in structure. The lists contained either 2, 4, or 12 categories. The writing procedure caused a decrement in recall in the 2- and 12-category conditions. Hence, restriction of rehearsal was only effective when the list structure placed higher demands on processing time.