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Retrospective and Prospective Memory Coding in Humans

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Abstract

In two experiments, memory coding strategies of adult humans were investigated. Retrospective coding is the storage and rehearsal of experienced material. Prospective coding is storage and rehearsal of anticipated material. Subjects were presented lists of numbers of various length. In Experiment 1, the numbers on the lists were selected from the numbers 1 through 16. When the numbers were presented in ascending numerical order, and a chart was provided, subjects used retrospective coding with short lists and prospective coding with long lists. In Experiment 2, the numbers on the lists were selected from 1 through 36 and were always presented in ascending numerical order. In conditions with and without the chart, subjects used retrospective coding with short lists, and prospective coding with long lists.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Asheville, One University Heights, Asheville, NC, 28804, USA

    Gary B. Nallan, Karron Kennedy & Kimberly Kennedy

Authors
  1. Gary B. Nallan
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  2. Karron Kennedy
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  3. Kimberly Kennedy
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Additional information

Some of these data were presented at the 1989 meeting of the Carolinas’ Psychology Conference, Raleigh. We thank Elana Bradfield and Ruth Polak for help in collecting data, and Kathleen A. Nallan and two anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript.

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Nallan, G.B., Kennedy, K. & Kennedy, K. Retrospective and Prospective Memory Coding in Humans. Psychol Rec 41, 79–86 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395095

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395095

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