Context retrieval and description benefits for recognition of unfamiliar faces

Describing unfamiliar faces during or immediately after their presentation in a study phase can produce better recognition memory performance compared with a view-only control condition. We treated descriptions as elaborative information that is part of the study context and investigated how context retrieval influences recognition memory. Following general dual-process theories, we hypothesized that recollection would be used to recall descriptions and that description recall would influence recognition decisions, including the level of recognition confidence. In four experiments description conditions produced higher hit rates and higher levels of recognition confidence than control conditions. Participants recalled descriptive content on some trials, and this context retrieval was linked to an increase in the recognition confidence level. Repeating study faces in description conditions increased recognition scores, recognition confidence level, and context retrieval. Estimates of recollection from Yonelinas' (1994) dual-process signal detection ROCs were, on average, very close to the measures of context recall. Description conditions also produced higher estimates of familiarity. Finally, we found evidence that participants engaged in description activity in some ostensibly view-only trials. An emphasis on the information participants use in making their recognition decisions can advance understanding on description effects when descriptions are part of the study trial context. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).