| Abstract: | Assessed the role of test appropriateness by studying generation effects with nonwords in 2 experiments, using 96 undergraduates. In Exp I, which used the switching of 2 letters as the generate task, Ss showed better memory for generated nonwords when the retention test assessed memory for which letters had been switched; in Exp II, a generation effect for nonwords emerged when Ss were required to generate items again at test, prior to the recognition decision. Results demonstrate that a robust generation effect can occur with meaningless items, as long as retention tests show sensitivity to what Ss actually generate in the nonword case. It is suggested that to allow for a generation effect to emerge, it is necessary to match what is actually generated with what is tested in the retention environment. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
