Induction of a Memory Retrieval Strategy by Young Children

Abstract

This study examines children's modification of their own retrieval processes in a cued recall task. Each experiment had multiple study-test trials with triplets of categorically related words (Horse–Pig–Cow). Category-orienting questions were asked at acquisition, and each trial had different triplet stimuli. The last triplet word was the target, and the retrieval cues were the whole-context cue (Horse–Pig), a part-context cue (Horse), or a noncontext associate (Goat). The measure of retrieval induction was recall increases across trials. Experiments 1 and 3 examined retrieval support for induction by 7- to 12-year olds by manipulating cue type. Experiments 2 and 4 manipulated acquisition variables that might affect retrieval induction. The results showed induction of an effective retrieval strategy in the situations of maximum retrieval support even by the 7-year olds, and developmental differences occurred in the situations where the retrieval cues provided few hints about the acquisition encoding operation. The results suggest that monitoring and modification of retrieval processes should be distinguished and that monitoring is necessary but not sufficient for induction of an effective retrieval strategy. The results have implications for understanding children's strategy-utilization deficiencies in memory tasks.