Maintenance rehearsal and long-term recency

Abstract

Maintenance (Type 1) rehearsal has been assumed to produce no increase in item recalla-bility. Studies supporting this assumption have, however, tested limited ranges of the rehearsal time variable. The present study varied the time spent in Type 1 rehearsal over an extended range, and, with this added design sensitivity, recall was observed to be positively related to rehearsal duration. In addition, a pronounced long-term recency effect was observed. Both findings were interpreted as reflecting the role of contextual cues. An expanded description of the memorial product of Type 1 processing allows a preservation of the Type l/Type 2 processing distinction and a reconciliation of the present and previous maintenance rehearsal data. © 1980 Psychonomic Society, Inc.