The block order effect in reconstruction of order tasks and metacognitive processing.

Abstract

In serial reconstruction of order tasks, high-frequency words are better remembered than otherwise equivalent low-frequency words. Neath and Quinlan (2021) found that although the usual high-frequency advantage was observed when subjects received a block of low-frequency lists first followed by a block of high-frequency lists, there was no frequency effect when subjects received a block of high-frequency lists followed by a block of low-frequency lists. In order to assess whether the block order effect simply reflects the inherent changeability of frequency effects, we manipulated concreteness, a much more stable effect. Experiment 1 found a block order effect with concreteness: The usual advantage for concrete over abstract words was observed only when the abstract block came first and the concrete block second; when the block order was reversed, no concreteness effect was seen. In Experiment 2, subjects did not know whether the test would be serial reconstruction of order or immediate serial recall until after list presentation. This eliminated the block order effect, just as when frequency was manipulated. Experiment 3 found a block order effect with a free reconstruction of order task and with both open and closed stimulus sets. Given that the pattern of results with concreteness is the same as with frequency, it suggests the block order effect is not unique to frequency and that a more general explanation, such as a metacognitive account, is needed.