Effects of repeated tests on recognition time for information in long-term memory.

Abstract

Required 20 right-handed undergraduates to memorize a list of 24 words. Ss were tested the following day for recognition time in a 2-choice task for list (target) and nonlist (distractor) words. The effects of repeating targets and distractors on response latency were measured. Repetitions produced shorter latencies and fewer errors for target words but longer latencies and more errors for distractors. Findings were discussed in terms of a model in which s judges the familiarity of the test word and on this basis decides whether to respond immediately or to execute a search of the memorized list before responding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)