The Effects of Self-generated Cues on Recall of the Paragraphs of a Text

The Influence of Self-Generation of Retrieval Cues during Learning or Recall of a Text

“…Initially all subjects studied the text during 12 min for future free recall. In contrast to the procedure in the earlier experiment (van Dam et al, 1987), note-taking was not allowed in this case. Instead, the subjects were asked to generate one word or a few words for each paragraph that might help them to remember that paragraph later.…”

“…In those cases short-term memory could be supposed to become gradually occupied to such a degree by information from more or less completely retrieved paragraphs that insufficient capacity remains available for exhaustive search for new retrieval cues. Furthermore, the possibility cannot be ruled out that search for paragraphs not yet recalled may be terminated unduly when the total amount of information recalled has reached an idiosyncratic level of judged sufficiency (e.g., van Dam & Brinkerink-Carlier, 1983).…”

“…The text to be studied in Experiment 1 was identical to the text previously used, to allow a direct comparison with the results of the previous study (van Dam et al, 1987). The learning material was an expository text (522 words), entitled "Egypt at the Time of Thutmose 111," comprising 20 self-contained paragraphs on distinct features of the superordinate topic.…”

“…To investigate this possibility, the previous experiment (van Dam et al, 1987) was replicated, except that systematic labeling of the paragraphs was induced during learning.…”

“…In a previous experiment (van Dam, Brinkerink-Carlier, & Kok, 1987) subjects studied a text that comprised an enumeration of coordinate paragraphs referring to a common superordinate topic. The results suggested that, during free recall, the inherent alternation between more-or-less complete retrieval of the paragraphs and the search for the next paragraphs may reduce the number of eventually accessed paragraphs.…”