A recency-based account of the list length effect in free recall

Free recall was examined using the overt rehearsal methodology with lists of 10, 20, and 30 words. The standard list length effects were obtained: As list length increased, there was an increase in the number and a decrease in the proportion of words that were recalled. There were significant primacy and recency effects with all list lengths. However, when the data were replotted in terms of when the words were last rehearsed, recall was characterized by extended recency effects, and the data from the different list lengths were superimposed upon one another. These findings support a recency-based account of episodic memory. The list length effect reflects the facts that unrehearsed words are less recent with longer lists, and that with longer lists, a reduced proportion of primacy and middle items may be rehearsed to later positions.