Phonological Similarity and Trace Degradation in the Serial Recall Task: When CAT helps RAT, but not MAN

Abstract
Phonological similarity is observed to affect serial recall detrimentally when correct‐in‐position scoring is used. Two experiments investigated the role of item and position accuracy scoring of rhyming, similar nonrhyming, and dissimilar lists under immediate recall conditions; articulatory suppression; or a filled delay. In general, rhyme lists produced the best item recall but position accuracy was highest for dissimilar lists. The results are due to a category cueing effect improving item recall for rhyme lists in conjunction with a detrimental effect of phonological similarity on position accuracy.