MODALITY AND SIMILARITY EFFECTS IN SHORT-TERM RECOGNITION MEMORY

Explored the effects of auditory and visual presentation and test modes using the Sternberg recognition memory task with modes varied within Ss in Exp. I and between Ss in Exp. II. Memory lists consisted of consonants that were visually or acoustically similar or were neutral. RT was a linear function of memory set size in all conditions, consistent with a serial search model. Search rate was substantially slower when different presentation and test modes were employed, e.g., visual-auditory or auditory-visual, than when the same mode was used. Acoustically similar lists were searched somewhat more slowly in both studies, but the effects of the similarity variable were relatively slight. Results were discussed in terms of the differences in recall and recognition memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.