Abstract
In a serial learning experiment in which the first item was made unique, the controls learned the list in the usual manner. For the experimental group, each trial began at a different, randomly chosen syllable. The results show that (a) acquisition is impaired and there is a different curve for the experimental group; (b) the unique item has an anchoring effect; and (c) a plot of errors within each trial shows no serial position effect (SPE) in the experimental group. The results are interpreted to indicate that: (a) anchoring accounts for a substantial portion of the SPE, and (b) recall shows no SPE in this paradigm.
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We express gratitude to Dr. Walter Makous for his many helpful suggestions, and to Mr. Michael Murray for assistance in the analysis of the data. This study was supported in part by the USPHS Training Grant No. 5T01 GM 00666.
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Woods, S.C., Epstein, M.L. Learning and recall differentiated in serial learning. Psychon Sci 15, 297–299 (1969). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336308
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336308