Generate–Sometimes Recognize, Sometimes Not

Abstract

We report three experiments testing the extension of Jacoby and Hollingshead's (1990) revised generate–recognize model of recall to a conceptually driven recall test. According to the model, recall involves generation of items plus recognition of some but not all generated items. Inconsistent with this model, production of high-frequency words was greater on a test that required recognition of all generated items than on a recall test (Experiments 1a and 1b), and production of low-frequency words was greater on a recall test than on a generation test that did not require a recognition check (Experiments 1a, 1b, and 2). Further, the production advantage for high-frequency over low-frequency words was greater on a test that required recognition of all generated items than on a recall test. This result is not consistent with the idea that some items are recalled without a recognition check. If so, then high-frequency words should have exhibited a greater advantage over low-frequency words on a recall test than on a test that required recognition of all generated items. The results are interpreted within the view that recall can involve using information from encoding to access target information directly at retrieval.