Abstract
Operating characteristics were used to assess the importance of word-frequency and word-length in recognition memory. It was much easier for Ss to distinguish between old and new rare words than between old and new common words. Rare (but not common) words were easier to recognize when they were polysyllabic than when they were not.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
EGAN, J. P. Recognition memory and the operating characteristic. Indiana University: Hearing and Communication Laboratory, Tech. Note AFCRC-TN-58-51, 1958.
GORMAN, A. M. Recognition memory for nouns as a function of abstractness and frequency. J. exp. Psychol., 1961, 61, 23–29.
GREEN, D. M., & MOSES, F. L. On the equivalence of two recognition measures of short-term memory. Psychol. Bull., 1966, 66, 228–234.
GREEN, D. M., & SWETS, J. A. Signal detection theory and psycho-physics. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1966. Pp. 337–345.
SHEPARD, R. N. Recognition memory for words, sentences, and pictures. J. verbal Learn. verbal Behav., 1967, 6, 156–163.
THORNDIKE, E. L., & LORGE, I. The teacher’s word book of 30,000 words. New York: Columbia University Press, 1944.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schulman, A.I. Word length and rarity in recognition memory. Psychon Sci 9, 211–212 (1967). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330834
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330834