Backward Recall and the Word Length Effect

Abstract

Summary:The word length effect, the finding that words that have fewer syllables are recalled better than otherwise comparable words that have more syllables, is one of the benchmark effects that must be accounted for in any model of serial recall, and simulation models of immediate memory rely heavily on the finding. However, previous research has shown that the effect disappears when participants are asked to recall the items in strict backward order.

The role of overt language production in the Hebb repetition effect

“…The interexperiment analysis revealed that learning slopes were comparable in Experiments 1 and 2, suggesting that similar learning took place whether or not the recall direction varied between trials. Those results also showed that foreknowledge of recall direction was not mediating the results observed in Experiment 1 (see also Surprenant et al, 2011). It must also be noted that Experiment 2 only provided half of the recall opportunities for the repeated sequence in each recall direction when compared to Experiment 1.…”

“…Some studies suggested a trade-off between item and order memory at the time of retrieval: The order dimension would receive more attention in backward than in forward recall, and therefore less attention would be given to the item dimension (Bireta et al, 2010; see also Surprenant et al, 2011). Other authors such as St Clair-Thompson and Allen (2013; see also Li & Lewandowsky, 1995) suggested that backward recall was accomplished through the use of a visuospatial strategy.…”

“…Using the word length effect, a working memory benchmark effect, Surprenant et al (2011) tested whether foreknowledge of the recall direction influenced results. Surprenant et al contrasted conditions in which the recall direction was known before list presentation, either by using a block presentation similar to that in our first experiment or by indicating recall direction before each list presentation, with a condition in which the recall direction was known only after list presentation.…”

Revisiting backward recall and benchmark memory effects: a reply to Bireta et al. (2010)

“…On the other hand, lexical effects were abolished with a closed pool where the same items were used on every trial (Hulme et al, 1997). Similarly, Bireta and her colleagues (2010;Surprenant et al, 2011) abolished or reduced all benchmark memory effects with closed or semi-closed pools. A semi-closed pool is a word set that is restricted but larger than list length, so that the same items are repeated several times during an experiment.…”

“…In order to further understand these processes, Bireta et al (2010;see also Surprenant et al, 2011) tested four benchmark memory phenomena well known to modulate forward serial recall performance in backward recall-that is, the effects of word length, phonological similarity, articulatory suppression, and irrelevant speech. Bireta and her colleagues (2010;Surprenant et al, 2011) showed that the four benchmark memory effects are abolished or greatly reduced in backward recall, as compared with forward recall. They accounted for these results within the scale invariant memory and perceptual learning (SIMPLE) model (Brown, Neath, & Chater, 2007).…”