Using overt rehearsals to explain word frequency effects in free recall

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• Human Memory

Background:

• The word frequency effect, where high-frequency words are recalled better than low-frequency words, is a well-documented phenomenon in memory research.
• Previous research has explored various factors contributing to this effect, including rehearsal patterns and item distinctiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the word frequency effect in free recall using the overt rehearsal methodology.
• To examine the roles of rehearsal frequency, rehearsal recency, and interitem associations in mediating the word frequency effect.

Main Methods:

• Three experiments were conducted using free recall tasks with overt rehearsal.
• Lists comprised exclusively high-frequency (HF) words, exclusively low-frequency (LF) words, or mixed lists.
• Rehearsal patterns and recall accuracy were meticulously recorded.

Main Results:

• Exclusively high-frequency (HF) word lists were recalled better, rehearsed more, and rehearsed to more recent serial positions compared to low-frequency (LF) word lists.
• A significant HF advantage persisted even when rehearsal variables were controlled.
• These effects were substantially diminished in mixed lists containing both HF and LF words.

Conclusions:

• The word frequency effect in free recall is significantly influenced by the number and recency of rehearsals.
• The strength of interitem associations also plays a crucial role in modulating the word frequency effect.
• Findings confirm that overt rehearsal patterns are key mediators of the word frequency effect in memory.