| Abstract: | Examined prerequisites on optimal memory performance of large amounts of verbal materials in 3 cued-recall experiments with 28 undergraduates. In Exp I, Ss defined their own retrieval cues by generating 1 or 3 properties of features for each of 504 words. Results indicate that the level of recall was directly related to the amount of retrieval information provided. Results of Exp II show that self-generated cues were much more effective than those generated by someone else. In both experiments, performance decreased over 1-, 2-, and 7-day retention intervals. Findings of Exp III, with 600 words to be remembered, replicated those of Exps I and III. Distinctiveness and compatibility of retrieval cues are proposed as 2 necessary prerequisites to perfect recall performance. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
