Alphabetic sequence decisions for letter pairs with separations of one to three letters.

Tested the alphabet storage and retrieval theory of D. Klahr et al (1983) for applicability to letter-order decisions. Ss judged whether letter pairs with sequential separations of 1, 2, or 3 letters were in correct or incorrect order. Ss made decisions either in a continuous- or intermittent-attention mode. The results of alphabetic letter-order decisions with a letter separation of 1 were in conformance with the theory of Klahr et al in both attention modes. However, at letter separations of 2 and 3 letters, Ss made decisions that were more compatible with a symbolic-distance mechanism. Speculation on how Ss could make alphabetic-order decisions in either a memory-consultation or a symbolic-distance manner is made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)