Free recall in children as a function of list composition and sorting technique

Abstract

Kindergarten children and sixth-graders sorted pictures in one of two ways: either into the pockets of a shirt worn during the experimental session (pocket condition), or onto small boards placed before them (board condition). Each subject was given both a clusterable and a nonclusterable list of items to sort and free recall. Subjects in the sorting conditions recalled more items and clustered their recall to a significantly greater extent than a control group not allowed to sort the items prior to recall. In addition, sixth-graders demonstrated equivalent clustering of recall in the two sorting conditions, whereas kindergarten children clustered recall significantly more in the more personalized pocket condition than the more traditional board condition. Results are discussed in terms of Flavell’s production deficiency hypothesis, and in terms of two facilitating functions attributed to the sorting manipulation.