Abstract
Consistent results of two experiments with relatively technical, native language vocabulary, showed that effectiveness of keyword methods depended upon whether meanings of words to be learned were abstract or concrete and whether comprehension was assessed immediately or after a delay. Keywords bearing acoustical similarities to vocabulary items whose meanings were presented as sentences consistently facilitated students’ retention of the meanings of concrete items on immediate posttests. However, in contrast to recent research on foreign language vocabulary having simpler definitions, these experiments showed that it may be difficult to use the keyword method to aid long-term retention with moderately complex. abstract, native language vocabulary.
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Johnson, C.W., Adams, M. & Bruning, R. Keywords and vocabulary acquisition: Some words of caution about words of assistance. ECTJ 33, 125–138 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02769114
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02769114