Effect of interitem similarity on free learning by children

Abstract

Free learning of word lists was tested in children from grades 2 to 6. Two different methods of measuring interitem associative strength were shown to improve immediate free recall more than comparable word lists distinguished by orthographic similarity; in turn, recall of each of these latter lists was better than comparable lists of unrelated words. Furthermore, it was determined that free learning is influenced by intralist similarity in much the same way at each grade (age) level. Apparently, the usefulness and impact of associative and orthographic relationships extend down to typical second grade students whose language habits have already largely taken shape.