Development aspects of storage and retrieval

Abstract

The present investigation examined the developmental characteristics of memory. For this purpose, the performance of third, fifth, and seventh graders was dichotomized into storage and retrieval phases. The storage phase was evaluated by analyses of overt rehearsal which yielded data on the amount and distribution of rehearsal during list presentation. Subject-paced free and serial recall tasks were used to provide control conditions to assess the extent to which externalized rehearsal changed the characteristics of overt processing. Correct responding and order of recall provided data relevant to the retrieval phase. Comparisons among the various measures indicated that (1) the amount of rehearsal increased with age, (2) the number of different items which are rehearsed at a given time increased with age, (3) both the amount and distribution of rehearsal were related to the level of correct responding, and (4) the order of item retrieval became increasingly serial with age. In addition, it was demonstrated that a marked change occurred in the nature of storage processing between the fifth and seventh grades.