III. FRT immediate recall and recognition learning

Abstract

Tests of immediate recall and recognition learning, using visual patterns as stimuli, were given to 100 normal subjects in continuance of a previous test of reproduction learning. Results were analysed by practice stages and correlated with questionnaires of extraversion, neuroticism, manifest anxiety, rigidity, dogmatism, intolerance of ambiguity, positive extreme response set, as well as with age and intelligence. Predictions derived from theories based on extraversion, neuroticism and manifest anxiety were tested and found not to receive any significant support. Empirical predictions made for the above personality criteria were confirmed in detail. In terms of correlations, intelligence, age, rigidity and positive extreme response set produced the most significant results, followed by neuroticism and manifest anxiety. Under certain conditions the regression of learning on rigidity was found to be curvillinear for all three tests: immediate recall, recognition learning and reproduction learning. Interference with learning increased with the degree of rigidity up to a maximum point, after which high grade rigidity was associated with relatively good performance. The optimum conditions for curvilinearity to appear were thought to be a certain amount of practice and a task difficulty of somewhat lower than medium level.