Physical features vs meaning: A difference in decay
- 1 May 1975
- journal article
- Published by Springer Nature in Memory & Cognition
- Vol. 3 (3) , 247-251
- https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03212906
Abstract
The encoding of either physical or semantic features of words was biased in an intentional learning situation. A modified recognition test was then employed to assess the effectiveness of this study manipulation and its consequences for retention. The Ss were required to select test items that were either physically similar, semantically similar, or identical to a study word. Results revealed that Ss biased toward physical encoding were more successful in selecting physically similar than semantically similar test items, while the opposite was true of Ss biased toward semantic encoding. The Ss in the two study conditions did not differ in their ability to select test items that were identical to a study word. This pattern of results was interpreted as evidence that semantic and physical information can be equally well retained over the long term. Limits on the generality of prior findings of rapid decay for physical information are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 12 references indexed in Scilit:
- Remembering operationsMemory & Cognition, 1973
- Encoding task and recognition memory: The importance of semantic encoding.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1973
- Semantic versus acoustic coding: Retention and conditions of organizationJournal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1973
- The effect of sentence context on the stability of phonemic and semantic memory dimensionsJournal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1973
- Retrieval processes in recognition memory: Effects of associative context.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1971
- Effects of changed semantic context on recognition memoryJournal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1970
- Concreteness and imagery in sentence meaningJournal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1969
- Attributes of memory.Psychological Review, 1969
- Recognition memory for syntactic and semantic aspects of connected discoursePerception & Psychophysics, 1967
- A frequency theory of verbal-discrimination learning.Psychological Review, 1966