The serial position function for lists learned by a narrative-story mnemonic

Abstract

In a free recall task when recall is delayed after input, the serial position function exhibits higher performance in the initial positions and depressed performance in the final positions relative to the middle positions. The nature of a S’s learning strategy in free recall has been a matter of speculation. The present study examined delayed recall for a learning strategy involving the construction of a story around list items. The delayed serial position function under these conditions differed from the standard paradigm in displaying an elevated performance over the final positions. To the extent that Ss use a story as a mnemonic in a free recall task, delayed performance on the final inputted items should be enhanced. © 1973, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.