The Isolation Effect in Children's Short Term Memory

Abstract

Summary Two short-term memory probe experiments involving the isolation effect (IE) were each done with two groups of children (5–6 and 9–11 years). Strong evidence was found for the IE. In simultaneously presented lists there was evidence for an overall list facilitation due to isolation, and younger children actually performed better on the isolate. The IE in children was described as a short-term perceptual process which is more active in younger than in older children.