Output Conditions and Retroactive Inhibition in Categorized Free Recall

Abstract

Cueing on both study and recall trials has previously been found to reduce retroactive inhibition in free recall when words from nonrepeated categories appear on the two lists. Strong cues presented only at output were expected to be sufficient to reduce retroactive inhibition. Cueing was expected to reduce the difference between separate and simultaneous recall of two lists by facilitating list differentiation during separate recall. 84 undergraduates were given either a cued or uncued recall trial after learning two lists containing both repeated and nonrepeated categories without cues. List 1 was recalled simultaneously with List 2 or separately. Cued recall was greater than uncued, more nonrepeated category words than repeated were recalled, and cueing was more effective with nonrepeated category words than repeated. No differences as a function of recall test were obtained. The findings add to the mixed results obtained in comparisons of simultaneous and separate recall.