Part-list cuing in speeded recognition and free recall

Mem Cognit. 2006 Apr;34(3):518-26. doi: 10.3758/bf03193575.

Abstract

The primary question was whether part-list cuing decrements would occur in a speeded yes/no recognition task and free recall. After studying category exemplars, participants were tested either after re-presentation of a subset of the exemplars (cues) or without re-presentation. Free recall of all study items followed the recognition task in each trial. Across two experiments, results demonstrated part-list cuing impairment in two ways: significant slowing of target recognition and lower free recall of target items in cued than in uncued trials. These findings extend the limited research on part-list cuing in recognition and support retrieval inhibition and retrieval competition interpretations of the phenomenon. Moreover, despite arguments for the necessity of the presence of cues for part-list inhibition, the present experiments demonstrate that the negative effects of cues can persist in their absence.

MeSH terms

  • Cues*
  • Humans
  • Mental Recall*
  • Reaction Time*
  • Recognition, Psychology*
  • Signal Detection, Psychological