Free recall of intralist items as a function of serial position, association value and conceptualization

Abstract

Eight lists were developed each consisting of four words with high association values and four words with low association values. Words were alternated within the lists on either a high, low, high, low or a low, high, low, high scheme. Some lists had high intralist association value (a common associate for the words in the list) while others did not. The different alternation patterns modified the normal serial position curves. The presence of a common associate did not facilitate recall.