Abstract
The structural relationships between paired-associate components and natural language mediators (NLMs) were analyzed by using forward and backward recall paradigms. Ss were required to give the NLM and the appropriate to-be-recalled component for pairs learned by natural language mediation. An insignificant difference was found in the ability of “stimulus” and “response” components to elicit NLMs, but a significant difference was obtained in the ability to decode the NLM into the correct response, with the forward recall procedure resulting in more efficient response recall. The results were discussed in terms of differential elaboration of stimulus and response components and in terms of Adams’s (Adams & Bray, 1970) theory of paired-associate learning.
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This research was supported in part by funds from the Graduate School, Texas Tech University. The paper is sponsored by C. G. Halcomb, who takes full editorial responsibility.
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Owens, J.M., Werder, P.R. & Marshall, P.H. A component analysis of natural language mediators obtained in paired-associate learning. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 4, 512–514 (1974). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334275
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334275