Effects of semantic list structure differences in free recall

Abstract

Free recall learning of a mixed list of 20 related and 20 unrelated words was enhanced more if the related words belonged to common taxonomie categories than if they were hierarchically ordered as a single branch of a “semantic tree” (e.g., animal, mammal, dog, terrier). The same difference obtained in 1-week delayed recall. No significant taxonomic-hierarchic differences were found in clustering. More detailed analyses indicated the hierarchical recall decrement to reflect fewer recalled items per set during learning, but fewer sets represented in delayed recall. These results were interpreted on the basis of a two-stage retrieval process, distinguishing access to a semantic set from subsequent access to items within the set. © 1972, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.