The Effects of Cognitive Level on Clustering in Free Recall

Abstract

Summary The relationship between a child's Piagetian developmental level and clustering on a free recall task was explored. Age-equivalent groups of preoperational (n = 30 boys and girls) and concrete operational Ss (n = 21 boys and girls) were asked to study and recall categorizable pictures. Concrete operational children displayed greater clustering in recall and organized a higher proportion of their output. These data are both in contrast to and a refinement of previous research. Recall amount is linked with age, while clustering is associated with cognitive/developmental changes that may involve knowledge of semantic relations between objects.