Retention of single- and double-function lists

Abstract

Four groups of 24 Ss each learned and recalled a single paired-associate list. Two groups learned a double-function list and two a single-function list. Retention interval was combined factorially with function so that two groups recalled and relearned after a 24-hr retention interval and two groups, serving as controls, recalled and relearned after a 5-min interval. No differential forgetting was found between the single-and double-function groups over the 24-hr retention interval. Subsequent analysis comparing fast and slow learners found that in the single-function groups fast learners recalled more than slow learners while this relationship was reversed in the double-function groups.