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Representation and processing of words in memory in a Sternberg type scanning experiment

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Summary

Sternberg's (1969) model of memory scanning processes is considered to be insufficient for verbal material. In Sternberg's model no considerations are given to coding and decoding processes which are relevant for verbal material. Usually Ss will represent letter strings of words as one unit with a specific meaning. If Sternberg's model should be valid for verbal material the time for coding and decoding of the memorized material has to be considered in addition to the time of coding the test stimulus, comparing the test item with the items of the memorized list and responding. Experimental data with different tasks to find a letter or a word in a list of words or a letter in a word can be explained adequately if coding and decoding processes for words are considered in the Sternberg model.

Zusammenfassung

Es wird davon ausgegangen, daß das Modell von Sternberg (1969) für Suchprozesse im Gedächtnis bei verbalem Material unzureichend ist. Die Besonderheit verbalen Materials besteht darin, daß es Vpn veranlaßt, physikalisch gegebene Buchstabensequenzen zu Wörtern zusammenzufassen, die als Bedeutungseinheiten codiert werden. Wenn man in dem Modell von Sternberg neben der Zeit für die Codierung des Testreizes, zum Vergleich des Testreizes mit einer memorierten Liste und zur Antwort zusätzlich die Zeit zur Codierung und Decodierung des memorierten verbalen Materials berücksichtigt, können experimentelle Daten zur Suche von Wörtern oder Buchstaben in Wortlisten adäquat erklärt werden.

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The experiments were conducted at the Yale University, USA.

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Lang, M. Representation and processing of words in memory in a Sternberg type scanning experiment. Psychol. Forsch. 36, 335–341 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00424571

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00424571

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