Interaction of instructions with the recall strategy actually used in a paired-associates learning task

Previous research suggests that interactive imagery produces memory performance superior to separation imagery, although the effects of instructions are less clear. Paired-associate learning was used to examine the effects of instructions (general memory, separation imagery, and interactive imagery) on recall, the frequency of using memory strategies (nonimaginal, separate image, and interactive image), and strategies' effectiveness. The numbers of correctly recalled items were fewer for subjects given general memory instructions than for subjects given separation or interactive imagery instructions which were not different from each other. Subjects reported using a variety of strategies. However, subjects given separation imagery instructions were more likely to report an interactive image than a separate image, and equally as likely to use interactive imagery as subjects given interactive imagery instructions. The present data suggest that subjects can effectively use a variety of memory strategies.