Abstract
Two free recall experiments that used modified narrative chaining instructions are reported. The first experiment compared instructions to create a story with standard free recall instructions. Subjects were given 5 min to study a 30-item list of words for later recall. One group was told to create a story with the words; the other group was simply told to study them. Mean recall did not differ as a function of instructions. In the second experiment, study time was manipulated in an attempt to eliminate the possibility that subjects in all conditions were creating stories. Again recall of the subjects given story instructions did not differ from those given standard free recall instructions. The results of the experiments are discussed in terms of methodological differences between these experiments and those of other investigators.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bellezza, F. S., Chessman, F. L. II, & Reddy, B. G. Organization and semantic elaboration in free recall. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 1977, 3, 539–550.
Bellezza, F. S., Richards, D. L., & Geiselman, R. E. Semantic processing and organization in free recall. Memory & Cognition, 1976, 4, 415–421.
Bower, G. H., & Clark, M. C. Narrative stories as mediators for serial learning. Psychonomic Science, 1969, 14, 181–182.
Craik, F. I. M., & Lockhart, R. S. Levels of processing: A framework for memory research. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1972, 11, 671–684.
Craik, F. I. M., & Tulving, E. Depth of processing and the retention of words in episodic memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 1975, 104, 268–294.
Herrman, O. J., Geisler, F. V., & Atkinson, R. C. The serial position function for lists learned by a narrative-story mnemonic. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1973, 2, 377–378.
Light, L. L., & Schurr, S. C. Context effects in recognition memory: Item order and unitization. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1973, 100, 135–140.
Paivio, A., Yuille, J. C., & Madigan, S. Concreteness, imagery, and meaningfulness values for 925 nouns. Journal of Experimental Psychology Monograph Supplement, 1968, 76(1, pt. 2).
Santa, J. L., Ruskin, A. B., & Yio, J. H. Mnemonic systems in free recall. Psychological Reports, 1973, 32, 1163–1170.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The present research was in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree for the first author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gamst, G., Freund, J.S. Effects of subject-generated stories on recall. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 12, 185–188 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329666
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329666