Encoding specificity: The case of maps and text

Abstract

Undergraduates studied either an intact reference map or a random distribution of map features and then listened to a text that contained facts related to the map. Next, half of the subjects in each encoding group received the map or the distribution of features and used thes e materialsas retrieval cues for recalling the text facts. Seeing the intact map prior to hearing the text led to better fact recall, and there was no effect for the type of cue presented at retrieval. The results provide no support for encoding specificity in the case in which a spatial display such as a map is used to improve memory for text. © 1993, Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.