Retrieval Aids Research Articles

The Application of Transfer-Appropriate Processing for Enhancing Reading Comprehension of Chinese High Schoolers

Improving reading comprehension via proper reading skills is crucial to English learning. Nevertheless, the dearth of educators on reading strategies and other factors poses a challenge to the long-range development of high school students’ ability of reading comprehension. Transfer-appropriate processing (TAP) is highly consistent with advancing high schoolers’ comprehensive application of English, but its introduction into practice has been an under-investigated domain. In light of this, the present study offers some TAP-based pedagogical recommendations for learning and teaching to facilitate reading comprehension. It is broken down into vocabulary memorization and text understanding. TAP states that three factors--the level of processing and the uniformity of activities and situations during memory encoding and retrieval--will modify memory performance. Generating questions involving intensive contemplation boosts the grasp of reading resources; employing initial tests (retrieval practice) and engaging in congruent physical activities during encoding and retrieval aid in nurturing enduring vocabulary retention. Educators and learners may integrate the aforementioned strategies into practice.

0061 Background Context but not Sleep Facilitates Visual Episodic Memory for Objects

Abstract Introduction Context serves as a retrieval aid and supports accurate recollection of elements within an episodic event. Associative links between elements of the episode can be weakened via decontextualization. Memory traces are considered to be decontextualized when they have undergone a process that makes them less context-dependent and more gist-like. Furthermore, sleep has been shown to facilitate consolidation of newly formed verbal memories, particularly when sleep occurs shortly after learning. The current study sought to better understand what supports accurate retrieval of visual episodic memories and whether they are modulated by sleep. We examined changes in memory accuracy following either a daytime nap or an equivalent period of quiet wakefulness when background context was changed or reinstated at retrieval. Methods Participants were presented with target objects that either appeared in the same scene across multiple trials or in changing scenes during encoding. Memory for target objects was tested using a two-alternative-forced-choice task before and after a 90-min daytime nap (or equivalent period of quiet wakefulness). During testing, the targets either appeared in the same scene context or in a new scene. Results Preliminary behavioural results suggest that recognition accuracy significantly decreased from Test 1 to Test 2. However, there was no difference in recognition scores after a nap compared to a period of quite wakefulness. Recognition was highest, at both tests, when the encoding context was reinstated. There was no difference in recognition between when the context was continually changing and when there was one context change between study and test. Conclusion When it comes to visual episodic memory, context plays a predominant role in accurate retrieval of the elements within the scene. The present results suggest that reinforcing the target object with consistent reinstatement of background context facilitates accurate object retrieval. Context reinstatement strengthened the object-to-scene binding, improving recognition accuracy. This effect remains robust regardless of whether learning was followed by a period of sleep or quite wakefulness, suggesting that context rather than consolidation during sleep plays a key role in visual episodic memory retrieval. Support (if any)

Emotional memory in the lab: Using the Trier Social Stress Test to induce a sensory-rich and personally meaningful episodic experience

A myriad of clinical theories places emotional memory or mental representations at the root of mental disorders. Various cognitive-behavioural interventions are based on the assumption that targeting the underlying emotional memory is the working mechanism of treatment efficacy. To test the assumptions about the role of emotional memory in the development, maintenance, and treatment of mental disorders, we first need to establish ecologically valid paradigms that can induce emotional memory in the lab. For this, we used the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a standardized protocol to elicit social distress, paired with a neutral unfamiliar ambient odour, to create a sensory-rich and personally meaningful episodic experience. Seven days later, participants (N = 132) reactivated the memory of the TSST with the aid of auditory, olfactory, and visual retrieval cues, during which their heart rate and self-reported affective responses were collected. Although increases in heart rate were only observed during encoding, and not at retrieval, self-report ratings showed that cues which directly referred to the aversive experience evoked more negative valence, arousal, and feelings of lack of control during memory reactivation compared to control cues across sensory modalities. These findings are indicative of successful memory induction and corroborate the utility of ambient odours as retrieval aids. Moreover, the self-reported response to the reactivated emotional memory correlated with individual differences in indices of (social) anxiety and depression. Thereby, we provide preliminary evidence of the translational significance of this paradigm that offers potential for being a model to induce ecologically valid emotional memory in the lab.

Enhanced Neuro-Fuzzy-Based Crop Ontology for Effective Information Retrieval

Ontology is the progression of interpreting the conceptions of the information domain for an assembly of handlers. Familiarizing ontology as information retrieval (IR) aids in augmenting the searching effects of user-required relevant information. The crux of conventional keyword matching-related IR utilizes advanced algorithms for recovering facts from the Internet, mapping the connection between keywords and information, and categorizing the retrieval outcomes. The prevailing procedures for IR consume considerable time, and they could not recover information proficiently. In this study, through applying a modified neuro-fuzzy algorithm (MNFA), the IR time is mitigated, and the retrieval accuracy is enhanced for trouncing the above-stated downsides. The proposed method encompasses three phases: i) development of a crop ontology, ii) implementation of the IR system, and iii) processing of user query. In the initial phase, a crop ontology is developed and evaluated by gathering crop information. In the next phase, a hash tree is constructed using closed frequent patterns (CFPs), and MNFA is used to train the database. In the last phase, for a specified user query, CFP is calculated, and similarity assessment results are retrieved using the database. The performance of the proposed system is measured and compared with that of existing techniques. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed MNFA has an accuracy of 92.77% for simple queries and 91.45% for complex queries.

A SOFTWARE TOOL FOR RECOVERING LOST MOBILE PHONES USING REAL-TIME TRACKING

The rapid increase in the use of smartphones and other mobile devices in developing countries like Nigeria, comes with the huge challenge of rampant phone theft and difficult process of recovery. This study was aimed at improving the recovery process for lost phones by the development of a mobile application for locating and retrieving lost mobile phones in real-time. The system design methodology was based on object-oriented analysis and design using the unified modelling language. The system was implemented using Android SDK Tools Version 23.0.5 in combination with Google Map service an underlying Firebase real-time database. The application was tested with Android 5.0 (Lollipop). The software was successfully used to track mobile devices in real-time with other retrieval aids like lock, ring and wipe (if the owner wants to) applied during the recovery process. The authors recommend this application as a simplified solution to the problem of mobile phone theft/misplacement.

Content-Based Image Retrieval in Medical Domain: A Review

Content-based Image Retrieval (CBIR) aids radiologist to identify similar medical images in recalling previous cases during diagnosis. Although several algorithms have been introduced to extract the content of the medical images, the process is still a challenge due to the nature of the feature itself where most of them are extracted in low level form. In addition to the dimensionality reduction problem caused by the low-level features, current features are also insufficient to convey the semantic meaning of the images. This paper reviews the recent works in CBIR that attempts to reduce the semantic gap in extracting the features from medical images, precisely for mammogram images. Approaches such as the use of relevance feedback, ontology as well as machine learning algorithms are summarized and discussed.

Enriching a thesaurus as a better question-answering tool and information retrieval aid

This article reports the method of enriching a thesaurus by differentiating the related term relationship with specific semantic relations and expanding related terms. It also tests the usefulness of an enriched thesaurus as a better question-answering tool and information retrieval aid based on users’ perceptions. A small portion of the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) thesaurus was enriched, and two enriched mini-thesauri were compiled with different levels of detail. A total of 22 participants were recruited to test the usefulness of the three mini-thesauri for facilitating question-answering and information retrieval within the ERIC Abstracts of the EBSCOHost Database and on the Web using Google. The experimental results suggest that the enriched thesauri are better question-answering tools and information retrieval aids than the original thesaurus. The findings imply that thesauri enriched with semantic relations are useful in question-answering and modern information retrieval, although the role of the traditional thesaurus in modern information retrieval has diminished.

Noncompetitive retrieval practice causes retrieval-induced forgetting in cued recall but not in recognition

Retrieving a subset of learned items can lead to the forgetting of related items. Such retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) can be explained by the inhibition of irrelevant items in order to overcome retrieval competition when the target item is retrieved. According to the retrieval inhibition account, such retrieval competition is a necessary condition for RIF. However, research has indicated that noncompetitive retrieval practice can also cause RIF by strengthening cue-item associations. According to the strength-dependent competition account, the strengthened items interfere with the retrieval of weaker items, resulting in impaired recall of weaker items in the final memory test. The aim of this study was to replicate RIF caused by noncompetitive retrieval practice and to determine whether this forgetting is also observed in recognition tests. In the context of RIF, it has been assumed that recognition tests circumvent interference and, therefore, should not be sensitive to forgetting due to strength-dependent competition. However, this has not been empirically tested, and it has been suggested that participants may reinstate learned cues as retrieval aids during the final test. In the present experiments, competitive practice or noncompetitive practice was followed by either final cued-recall tests or recognition tests. In cued-recall tests, RIF was observed in both competitive and noncompetitive conditions. However, in recognition tests, RIF was observed only in the competitive condition and was absent in the noncompetitive condition. The result underscores the contribution of strength-dependent competition to RIF. However, recognition tests seem to be a reliable way of distinguishing between RIF due to retrieval inhibition or strength-dependent competition.

Selective memory retrieval can impair and improve retrieval of other memories.

Research from the past decades has shown that retrieval of a specific memory (e.g., retrieving part of a previous vacation) typically attenuates retrieval of other memories (e.g., memories for other details of the event), causing retrieval-induced forgetting. More recently, however, it has been shown that retrieval can both attenuate and aid recall of other memories (K.-H. T. Bäuml & A. Samenieh, 2010). To identify the circumstances under which retrieval aids recall, the authors examined retrieval dynamics in listwise directed forgetting, context-dependent forgetting, proactive interference, and in the absence of any induced memory impairment. They found beneficial effects of selective retrieval in listwise directed forgetting and context-dependent forgetting but detrimental effects in all the other conditions. Because context-dependent forgetting and listwise directed forgetting arguably reflect impaired context access, the results suggest that memory retrieval aids recall of memories that are subject to impaired context access but attenuates recall in the absence of such circumstances. The findings are consistent with a 2-factor account of memory retrieval and suggest the existence of 2 faces of memory retrieval.

Enriching a thesaurus as a better retrieval aid

Current thesauri do not indicate how two related (RT) terms can be related. An enriched thesaurus by differentiating the RT relationship helps people understand how two RT terms can be related, and is expected to be a better retrieval aid by facilitating information needs clarification and query formulation.

The effects of photographs and event plausibility in creating false beliefs

Recent studies have shown that using photographs as memory retrieval aids can significantly increase the likelihood of false memories. The current study further investigated this effect by examining the interactive effects of photographs and event plausibility in developing false beliefs. At Time 1 and two weeks later at Time 2, participants rated 20 events on the Life Events Inventory (LEI) as to whether each occurred to them in childhood. One week after Time 1, participants were told that two target events were plausible and two were implausible. They then used event-related photographs to visualize one plausible and one implausible event. Occurrence ratings significantly increased from Time 1 to Time 2 for plausible events in the photo condition. These results suggest that the use of photographs as a memory enhancing technique is unlikely to cause false memories for events that are not perceived personally plausible.

When does between-sequence phonological similarity promote irrelevant sound disruption?

Typically, the phonological similarity between to-be-recalled items and TBI auditory stimuli has no impact if recall in serial order is required. However, in the present study, the authors have shown that the free recall, but not serial recall, of lists of phonologically related to-be-remembered items was disrupted by an irrelevant sound stream (end rhymes) sharing similar phonological content. These findings can be explained by the notion that between-sequence phonological similarity effects emerge when category-cueing processes become an important determinant for recall, such as when shared category information can be used as a retrieval aid to cue list items or plausible list candidates. In this case, the presence of categorically similar irrelevant items impairs the retrieval of list items and leads to intrusion error. Implications of these results for theories of auditory distraction are discussed.

Inner speech as a retrieval aid for task goals: the effects of cue type and articulatory suppression in the random task cuing paradigm

Articulatory suppression has been shown to increase switch costs in the list paradigm (e.g., [J. Exp. Psychol.: General 130 (2001) 641, J Memory Language 48 (2003) 148]). The present dual-task study examined whether this effect generalizes to the random task cuing paradigm. Participants performed color or shape judgments according to explicit word cues ( COLOR or SHAPE) or less transparent letter cues ( C for the color task and S for the shape task). In the word cue condition, the switch cost was equivalent for the articulatory suppression and the control (no dual-task) conditions, but, in the letter cue condition, the switch cost was significantly greater for the articulatory suppression condition than for the control condition. These results suggest that inner speech may be recruited as a tool for retrieving and activating the relevant task goal when the task cue is not transparent and hence imposes nonnegligible retrieval demand.

EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF KNOWLEDGE-RETRIEVAL AIDS FOR FAULT-DIAGNOSIS TASKS

ABSTRACT The mechanism of knowledge retrieval is the key factor regarding whether users can efficiently apply a knowledge-based system. The effects case-based reasoning (CBR) retrieval and traditional key-term knowledge retrieval have on the performance of fault-diagnosis tasks were compared. The study was conducted using a split-plot factorial design: Two knowledge-retrieval aids by two problem complexities. Twenty subjects participated in the experiment and were randomly assigned to one of two groups. ANOVA results show that the fault-diagnosis times of the subjects in the CBR knowledge-retrieval group were significantly shorter than those of the key-term knowledge-retrieval group. In addition, the correct fault-diagnosis rates of the CBR knowledge-retrieval group were significantly higher than those of the key-term knowledge-retrieval group. The differences were more significant when the diagnosis tasks were of higher degrees of complexity. The results demonstrate that the CBR retrieval aid can improve the performance of fault-diagnosis tasks. It is therefore suggested that algorithm-based knowledge browsing and retrieval aids should be included in the development of knowledge-based systems to support users in interacting with these systems.

Survey of the 1997, 1998 and 1999 annual technical reports on trademark information activities

The activities of some 50 intellectual property offices world-wide in the field of trademark information are summarised for the period 1997–1999. The summary is presented under eight standard headings, as far as relevant, for each country. Activity varies enormously from just a handful of applications through to Sweden, Brazil and Germany (over 75K each), Republic of Korea (over 117K), Japan (over 121K), and China (over 159K); the numbers are increasing steadily in most countries. The Nice and Vienna Classifications are the preferred retrieval aids. The author concludes that progress on automation and electronic delivery of trademark information closely mirrors that on patent information activities.

Survey of the 1997, 1998 and 1999 Annual Technical Reports on industrial design information activities

The activities of some 50 intellectual property offices world-wide in the field of industrial design information are summarised for the period 1997–1999. The summary is presented under eight standard headings, as far as relevant, for each country. Activity varies enormously from just a handful of applications through to the UK (over 9K in 1999), USA (nearly 18K), Japan (over 37K), and Germany (just over 89K); the numbers are increasing steadily in most countries. The Locarno Classification (LC) is the preferred retrieval aid. The author concludes that only slow progress on automation and electronic delivery of industrial design information has been achieved so far.

Readability formulas have even more limitations than Klare discusses

A literature review reveals many technical weaknesses of readability formulas (when compared to direct usability testing with typical readers): they were developed for children s school books, not adult technical documentation;they ignore between-reader differences and the effects of content, layout, and retrieval aids on text usefulness; they emphasize countable features at the expense of more subtle contributors to text comprehension.

Photographs as retrieval cues for children

The aim of this study was to evaluate photographs as an alternative type of retrieval aid suitable for pre-school children. Fifty-seven children (age 3;7–6;8 years) participated in a fishing game. Ten days later the children were questioned about the situation under three conditions: group 1 was interviewed only with a context-reinstatement instruction. Group 2 additionally received photos relevant to the game as well as distractor items. Group 3 received both of these aids and was trained in the use of photos. In the photo groups more correct details were remembered compared to the control group. Accuracy in both photo groups was also enhanced by props. These results show that multiple-choice photos combined with a reinstate context instruction are an effective retrieval aid for young children. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Event-based personal retrieval

People who work in a research, academic or business envi ronment often have personal information collections which are large enough to need retrieval aids. A major difference between personal information retrieval and normal docu ment retrieval is that the items to be retrieved are often associated with events in the searcher's life and can be retrieved by their relationship to other events as well as by content. This paper describes some of the background to event-based retrieval and then describes a prototype graph ical event-based retrieval system.

The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: blocking or partial activation?

Tip-of-the-tongue states may represent the momentary unavailability of an otherwise accessible word or the weak activation of an otherwise inaccessible word. In three experiments designed to address these alternative views, subjects attempted to retrieve rare target words from their definitions. The definitions were followed by cues that were related to the targets in sound, by cues that were related in meaning, and by cues that were not related to the targets. Experiment 1 found that compared with unrelated cues, related cue words that were presented immediately after target definitions helped rather than hindered lexical retrieval, and that sound cues were more effective retrieval aids than meaning cues. Experiment 2 replicated these results when cues were presented after an initial target-retrieval attempt. These findings reverse a previous one (Jones, 1989) that was reproduced in Experiment 3 and shown to stem from a small group of unusually difficult target definitions.