Abstract
Without any feedback to distinguish correct recall from intrusions, spontaneous retrieval (without further presentation after initial recall of each item) of a list of 20 animals increased rapidly during free recall verbal learning. Intrusions, elicited by requiring forced recall of 20 items on each trial, decreased as correct recall increased. List items were recalled with great consistency once they were spontaneously retrieved; total recall was limited more by the initial difficulty of retrieving an item from long-term storage for the first time. Since these results show that subjects know which items belong to the list, they indicated that spontaneous retrieval of items from the same category does show retention and retrieval, rather than guessing. Forced recall increases retrieval even more than extended recall does, not through guessing but by encouraging further search in long-term storage for recovery of more items, which are correctly discriminated when found.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Buschke, H. Selective reminding for analysis of memory and learning. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1973, 12, 543–550.
Buschke, H. Spontaneous remembering after recall failure. Science, 1974, 184, 579–581.
Buschke, H. Two stages of learning by children and adults. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, in press.
Kintsch, W., & Morris, C. J. Application of a Markov model to free recall and recognition. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1965, 69, 200–206.
Restle, H. L. Significance of all-or-none learning. Psychological Bulletin, 1965, 64, 313–325.
Ritter, W. & Buschke, H. Free, forced and restricted recall in verbal learning. Journal of Experimental Psychology, in press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by USPHS Grants MH-17733 to H. B. from NIMH, NS-03356 from NIMS, and HT-01799 from NICHD.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buschke, H. Retrieval of categorized items increases without guessing. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 5, 71–73 (1975). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336709
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336709