On the nature of the Tulving-Wiseman function.

The reality of the Tulving-Wiseman function (E. Tulving and S. Wiseman, 1975) that describes the outcomes of a large number of recognition-failure experiments has been called into question by D. L. Hintzman (see record 1992-41816-001), who has argued on formal grounds that the function emerges because of mathematical constraints on the maximum possible values of recognition conditionalized on recall. Hintzman's claim is shown to be contrary to empirical facts. Data from a large number of experiments and experimental conditions in which recognition is equal to or exceeds recall (conditions that are not subject to mathematical constraints discussed by Hintzman) adhere closely to the Tulving-Wiseman function, suggesting that the function is psychologically real. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)