Widening the boundaries of the production effect

Abstract

Words that are read aloud are more memorable than words that are read silently. The boundaries of this production effect (MacLeod, Gopie, Hourihan, Neary, & Ozubko, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 36, 671-685, 2010) have been found to extend beyond speech. MacLeod and colleagues demonstrated that mouthing also facilitates memory, leading them to speculate that any distinct, item-specific response should result in a production effect. In Experiment 1, we found support for this conjecture: Relative to silent reading, three unique productions-spelling, writing, and typingall boosted explicit memory. In Experiment 2, we tested the sensitivity of the production effect. Although mouthing, writing, and whispering all improved explicit memory when compared to silent reading, these other production modalities were not as beneficial as speech. We argue that the enhanced distinctiveness of speech relative to other productions-and of other productions relative to silent readingunderlies this pattern of results.

The ecology of self-monitoring effects on memory of verbal productions: Does speaking to someone make a difference?

“…The main explanation of this effect -the distinctiveness account -suggests that words spoken aloud are better remembered because distinctive information is experienced at encoding and can be ''replayed'' at the moment of recollection (MacLeod et al, 2010;Ozubko, Major, & MacLeod, 2014). The production effect is also present, but to a lesser degree, when words are mouthed instead of read aloud (Forrin, MacLeod, & Ozubko, 2012). But the focus of this work is not the differential effects of sensory feedback at the source of production effects.…”

Production benefits both recollection and familiarity

“…Begg & Snider, 1987). In sum, the breadth of materials and encodings that can benefit from a production boost appears to be extensive, a point underscored by Forrin, MacLeod, and Ozubko (2011), who showed reliable enhancements for spelling, typing, and writing, among other modes of production.…”

Capturing egocentric biases in reference reuse during collaborative dialogue

“…A series of studies conducted in the field of memory research has shown that words produced aloud are remembered better than words read silently (Forrin, Ozubko & MacLeod, 2012;MacLeod, Gopie, Neary, & Ozubko, 2010;Ozubko, Hourihan, & MacLeod, 2012); this production effect is all the stronger when the production is self-performed (MacLeod, 2011). These findings could have implications for reference reuse in dialogue.…”