Noun Imagery in Verbal-Discrimination Learning and Recall

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of high versus low noun imagery in verbal-discrimination learning and recall. The results showed that high-imagery right terms, wrong terms, or pairs led to faster acquisition than did low-imagery pairs. Measures of free recall after learning indicated that recall of low-imagery items from pairs heterogeneous in imagery was masked by recall of high-imagery items. This experiment was designed to further investigate how noun imagery as a task variable may supplement the operation of an experimental-frequency mechanism (Ekstrand, Wallace, and Underwood, 1966) in verbaldiscrimination learning. The frequency theory of verbal-discrimination learning proposed by Ekstrand et al. postulates that intrapair discriminations between 'wrong' and 'right' terms are based on cues provided by differential frequencies of responding to the two items. The primary sources of differential frequencyunit accrual are assumed to be representational responses, pronunciation responses, rehearsal of correct responses, and implicit associative responses. In a typical situation where both members of a pair start with equal frequency and no associates are present, representational responses and pronunciation responses should be equally divided between wrong and right members of a pair. As practice progresses, however, rehearsal of correct responses enables the total response frequency to the right terms to exceed the total response frequency to the wrong terms. Ekstrand et al. referred to the selection of the more frequent or familiar of the two alternatives as Rule 1. They also suggested that under special circumstances where the wrong term has a higher initial frequency, subjects might be able to use another rule, Rule 2 ('Always choose the less frequent or familiar item'), to learn the list.