A TEMPORAL INTERPRETATION OF SOME RECALL PHENOMENA

Hypothesized that, other things equal, amount recalled is a joint positive function of absolute and proportional time. A number of retroactive inhibition experiments were analyzed and explained within the framework of the hypothesis. An original experiment with 45 undergraduates demonstrated that the usual retroactive inhibition effects were obtainable even when the 2 lists were not presented separately, so long as their temporal features were maintained. With the provision that response biases can also play a role, proactive inhibition phenomena were similarly accomodated. A mechanism compatible with the hypothesis is suggested. (42 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.