Semantic memory content in permastore: Fifty years of memory for Spanish learned in school

Abstract

Tested retention of Spanish among 587 Ss who had studied the language in high school or college 1-50 yrs previously. Also tested were 146 Ss currently studying Spanish and 40 who had never studied Spanish. Tests of reading comprehension, recall, recognition vocabulary, and grammar were administered together with a questionnaire to determine the level of original training, the grades received, and rehearsals during the retention interval in the form of reading, writing, speaking, or listening to Spanish. Analysis showed that retention throughout the 50-yr period was predictable on the basis of the level of original training. Data reveal no significant rehearsal effects. The analysis yielded memory curves that declined exponentially for the 1st 3-6 yrs of the retention interval. After that, retention remained unchanged for up to 30 yrs before showing a final decline. Large portions of the originally acquired information remained accessible; the portion of the information in a "permastore" state was a function of the level of original training, the grades received in Spanish courses, and the method of testing (recall vs recognition). (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1984 American Psychological Association.