The correlation between cue differentiation and associative recall

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to correlate performance on a test of cue differentiation with cued recall. In one experiment, subjects were given 2, 6, 8, or 12 study repetitions on verbal items consisting of three-word cues and single-word targets. The cues had varying numbers and patterns of identical elements. Cues were tested for differentiability and for their ability to produce target recall. In the second experiment, study repetitions on the same type of lists were followed by the two tests after the second, fourth, and final study repetitions. With a few exceptions, the frequency of occurrence of items that both were successfully differentiated and produced correct recall did not deviate significantly from predictions based on the assumption of independence of the two measures.